Abstract
Resuscitation after cardiac arrest is unlikely if a reversible cause is not identified and treated. The potentially reversible causes can be described as hypoxia, hypovolaemia, hypo-/hyper-kalaemia/other metabolic disorders, hypothermia and tension pneumothorax, tamponade (cardiac), toxins and thrombus. We report a case in which thrombolysis was used successfully during prolonged resuscitation. The patient was later confirmed to have had a massive pulmonary embolus. He was discharged to his home 13 days after cardiac arrest without any sign of neurological deficit.
MeSH terms
-
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
-
Contraindications
-
Fibrinolytic Agents / administration & dosage
-
Heart Arrest / etiology*
-
Heart Arrest / mortality
-
Heart Arrest / therapy
-
Heparin / administration & dosage
-
Heparin / therapeutic use
-
Humans
-
Male
-
Middle Aged
-
Pulmonary Embolism / complications*
-
Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
-
Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy
-
Pulmonary Embolism / mortality
-
Thrombolytic Therapy*
-
Tissue Plasminogen Activator / administration & dosage
-
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Substances
-
Fibrinolytic Agents
-
Heparin
-
Tissue Plasminogen Activator