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Complications of Resuscitation
- CPR, defibrillation, endotracheal intubation, and cannulation of peripheral and central veins are common procedures during resuscitation of cardiac arrest patients
- Although not obvious immediately, complications from these procedures can develop and manifest several hours after successful return of spontaneous circulation
- Not surprisingly, the most common complications are rib and sternal fractures
- Additional complications to recall include:
- tracheal mucosal lesions (almost 20%)
- retropharyngeal bleeding
- liver/spleen injuries
- rhabdomyolysis (post-defibrillation)
- air embolism (central venous access)
- gastric rupture (very rare; due to continuous air insufflation into the stomach)
References
Buschmann CT, Tsokos M. Frequent and rare complications of resuscitation attempts. Intensive Care Med 2009;35:397-404.