Ventricular fibrillation in the patient with blunt trauma: not always exsanguination
Cotter, G.; Moshkovitz, Y.; Barash, P.; Baum, A.; Faibel, H.; Segal, E.
Journal of Trauma 41(2): 345-347
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5282 PMID: 8760549 Document Number: 455970
Three cases of successful prehospital resuscitation of blunt trauma patients sustaining cardiac arrest resulting from ventricular fibrillation are reported. Although probably uncommon, ventricular fibrillation not caused by severe hypovolemia, exsanguination, or severe hypoxia in the setting of blunt trauma might be a treatable cause of cardiac arrest. Early electrocardiographic monitoring of patients with blunt trauma, including those with cardiac arrest, can detect this small, yet easily salvageable group of patients.