CPR-dependent consciousness: evidence for cardiac compression causing forward flow.
We present the case of a patient with cardiac arrest and resuscitation in whom, consistent with direct cardiac compression, large aortic-to-right atrial systolic pressure gradients occurred. Forward blood flow during CPR was sufficient for the patient to maintain consciousness. Although aortic-to-right atrial diastolic gradients adequate to maintain coronary perfusion in experimental models were generated, in our patient, cardiac function could not be restored and the resuscitation was ultimately unsuccessful.
Lewinter
J R
JR
Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202.
Carden
D L
DL
Nowak
R M
RM
Enriquez
E
E
Martin
G B
GB
D001775:Blood Circulation; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003243:Consciousness; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*