Open AccessSuccessful Recovery After Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Rescue Thrombolytics in a Patient with Cardiac Arrest Secondary to Presumed Massive Pulmonary Embolism
Author(s) -
Wei Liu,
Lina Liu,
Caiwei Lin,
Haoyu Wang,
Xudong Wang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
risk management and healthcare policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.828
H-Index - 22
ISSN - 1179-1594
DOI - 10.2147/rmhp.s317205
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , pulseless electrical activity , return of spontaneous circulation , pulmonary embolism , ventricle , cardiology , resuscitation , refractory (planetary science) , anesthesia , astrobiology , physics
We present the case of a 60-year-old woman who suddenly suffered a witnessed cardiac arrest and did not achieve return of spontaneous circulation despite being given 150-minute ultra-long cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). During CPR, pulmonary embolism was suspected and was eventually diagnosed based on refractory pulseless electrical activity, elevated serum D-dimmer, and a markedly enlarged right ventricle chamber. After rescue thrombolytic alteplase therapy, the patient was successfully resuscitated and had a good neurological recovery.