this is an amazing case!

Published

A 70-year-old man who developed cardiac arrest secondary to hyperkalemia that complicated severe chronic renal failure due to obstructive uropathy. The patient experienced electromechanical dissociation and approximately 26 minutes of asystole after which the resuscitation was suspended. However, 8 to 10 minutes after declaration of death, the patient was noted to have...

http://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644%2894%2970144-X/abstract

have any of you ever had an experience similar to this with a pt.?

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Specializes in ICU.

That is pretty crazy....

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

Link please??

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Specializes in Home Health.

I think it's called Lazarus syndrome.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

um, wow.

Nothing crazy like that. I had one patient that went into out of hospital cardiac arrest while visiting his son. He lived, but we all know how rare that is. Especially out of hospital. he was a candidate for the hypothermic treatment. So i don't know. but 26 minutes?? dang.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Wow! It must not have been his time yet! I'd like to ask him if he had a near death experience. I always ask people if they had a NDE when they coded, some do and some don't remember!

I remember one patient very frail, ill elderly lady in renal failure who coded frequently during dialysis VTACH and Torsades and she told me she had an NDE where God told her it wasn't her time to go and that she was still needed for her family.

We have to always remember its God's time; that is why I have reservations about hospice.

Have any of your patients ever talked about their near death experiences?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

He was undoubtedly asystolic? Like, telemetry/EKG definitely not malfunctioning- he was truly without any cardiac output?

That is crazy. I thought brain death was certain with at the most, 10 minutes of pulselessness. I've never heard of Lazarus syndrome. I'm going to look it up!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

Pulled directly from wiki: "

Occurrences of the syndrome are extremely rare and the causes are not well understood. One theory for the phenomenon is that a chief factor (though not the only one) is the buildup of pressure in the chest as a result of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The relaxation of pressure after resuscitation efforts have ended is thought to allow the heart to expand, triggering the heart's electrical impulses and restarting the heartbeat.[2] Other possible factors are hyperkalemia or high doses of epinephrine."

That doesn't explain the neuro aspect though!

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Specializes in Float.

I think in these times of indiscriminate war, murder & abuse, especially of our children, this is God's little wink to let us know that he is still with us & still in charge. We all could use some spiritual comfort now a days. Thanks for the story.

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Specializes in Emergency; med-surg; mat-child.

We have to always remember its God's time; that is why I have reservations about hospice.

Why? Hospice doesn't provide suicide assistance or euthanasia, so I fail to understand how anyone would have reservations about it.

Besides that, if it's a specialty that we've developed because God gave us the smarts to do it, then shouldn't we use it?

I will admit that I have never understood the religious reasons for most ethical issues, let alone social ones, so maybe I am the wrong person to respond here.

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We have to always remember its God's time; that is why I have reservations about hospice.

I, too, have to ask what that has to do with Hospice? I don't understand why that would make you have reservations about palliative care.

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I think in these times of indiscriminate war, murder & abuse, especially of our children, this is God's little wink to let us know that he is still with us & still in charge. We all could use some spiritual comfort now a days. Thanks for the story.

I agree!!! This is crazy but totally awesome! :redbeathe

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