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Neurologically normal survival after fibrinolysis during prolonged cardiac arrest: case report and discussion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Kevin Clark ,
Riyad B. Abu-Laban ,
Peter J. Zed  and
Lois Graham
Kevin Clark
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia FRCP Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Vancouver, BC
Riyad B. Abu-Laban*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, and Division of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia
Peter J. Zed
Affiliation:
CSU Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital, and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Lois Graham
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, and Division of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia
*
Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, 855 W. 12th. Ave., Vancouver BC V5Z 1M9; 604 875-4700, fax 604 875-4872, abulaban@interchange.ubc.ca

Abstract

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Cardiac arrest secondary to pulmonary embolism is a devastating condition with a high mortality rate. It is currently unclear whether fibrinolysis (thrombolysis) is beneficial in this setting. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman with a pulmonary embolism who developed return of pulses following the administration of tissue plasminogen activator after 38 minutes of pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrest. She went on to make a full neurologic and cardiopulmonary recovery. This case is discussed with reference to the current literature on the subject.

Keywords

cardiac arrestfibrinolysisthrombolysispulmonary embolism
Type
Case Report • Observations De Cas
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , January 2003 , pp. 49 - 53
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2003

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