Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for refractory ventricular fibrillation. A rescue bridge to reperfusion
Hall, A.P.; Delnoij, T.S.R.; Donker, D.W.
Acta Anaesthesiologica Belgica 65(4): 175-178
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5164 PMID: 25622383 Document Number: 674682
Accumulating evidence suggests benefit of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) in patients with refractory cardiac arrest by using venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Appropriate patient selection for E-CPR is cumbersome and still debated. We describe a 56-year-old male who developed refractory ventricular fibrillation upon arrival at the emergency department and was successfully treated by urgent E-CPR. Patient selection, complications and the need to adapt the chain of survival are discussed.