Persistent Ventricular Fibrillation During Therapeutic Hypothermia and Prolonged High-Dose Vasopressor Therapy: Case Report
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Emergency Medicine
Abstract
Background: Recent emphasis on high quality prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation has resulted in more out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims surviving to the emergency department. As such, standardized in-hospital post-cardiac arrest care is necessary to assure optimal neurological recovery. Although therapeutic hypothermia has arisen as a key component in the post-cardiac arrest care paradigm, its interaction with other therapies remains poorly defined.
Objective: The purpose of this communication is to demonstrate a potential interaction between therapeutic hypothermia and routinely administered resuscitation medications.
Case report: We present a case of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation in a previously healthy 36-year-old man who developed persistent ventricular fibrillation in the setting of mild therapeutic hypothermia and high doses of routine resuscitation medications.
Conclusion: This case illustrates the importance of understanding the potential interaction between therapeutic hypothermia and resuscitation medications along with the need for a systematic and standardized, multi-disciplinary approach to post-cardiac arrest care.
DOI
10.1016/j.jemermed.2009.05.027
Publication Date
7-2012
Keywords
therapeutic hypothermia, ventricular fibrillation, dopamine, dobutamine, drug metabolism
ISSN
0736-4679
Recommended Citation
Poles JC, Vadeboncoeur TF, Bobrow BJ. Persistent Ventricular Fibrillation During Therapeutic Hypothermia and Prolonged High-Dose Vasopressor Therapy: Case Report. Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2012; 43(1). doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2009.05.027.
