title: [Cardiac arrest caused by pulmonary embolus and treated with thrombolysis].
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.
authors.affiliation: Medicinsk Afdeling, Regionshospitalet Viborg/Skive, Heibergs Allé 4, 8800 Viborg, Denmark. mkc@martinkc.dk
authors.forename: Martin Kirk
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rognås
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Løfgren
authors.forename: Hanne Maare
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D000075202:Contraindications; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator