The neurological outcome of post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Abstract

EMS personnel immediately see the results of resuscitation failures, but rarely are they able to see the long-term positive outcomes of their efforts. Paramedics are occasionally involved in successful cardiopulmonary codes. They have insight into the situation by seeing the location and events surrounding the emergency first-hand, but without having much awareness of the long progression to recovery or of specifically how their team's interventions may have aided that recovery. During medical school, the author had the opportunity to follow such patients and observe their progression daily through the emergency department (ED), intensive care unit (ICU), hospital medical wards, and finally to discharge.

This case report discusses the neurological recovery of Mr L, a patient who was successfully resuscitated from a cardiopulmonary code. The case report will highlight his recovery, as well as examine some of the interventions that were made at the prehospital and emergency department level that played a positive role in the patient's recovery. To focus on the specific components of the case which are relevant to EMS, only information essential to the case discussion is presented.