title: Gastric perforation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation: review of the literature.
abstract: The risk of complications of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) does not outweigh the benefit of a successful restoration of a spontaneous circulation. Despite the frequent occurrence of gastric distension (caused by air entering the stomach because of too forceful and/or too quick rescue breathing), there are few reports of massive gastric distension causing gastric rupture and pneumoperitoneum after CPR. We reviewed all 67 case reports of gastric perforation that have been reported after CPR. Although uncommon, this review stresses the need to consider this potentially lethal complication after initial successful resuscitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spoormans
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Hoorenbeeck
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balliu
authors.forename: Philippe G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Jorens
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008150:Lower Body Negative Pressure / Q000379:methods; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013275:Stomach Rupture / Q000209:etiology*