Abstract
We report a case of gastric rupture caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The patient was a 60-year-old man who had undergone cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) soon after an arrhythmic event at his office. A bystander had performed CPR for the patient until the paramedic crew arrived. The crew then performed electrical defibrillation, which resulted in the recovery of the patient's spontaneous circulation, at which time he was admitted to the critical care unit of our hospital. On admission, abdominal CT and radiographic examinations revealed a large volume of free air in his abdominal cavity. The case was diagnosed as gastro-intestinal rupture caused by CPR. Emergency suturing of the gastric lining was carried out following initial coronary angiography. The patient survived this surgical intervention and was subsequently discharged without disabilities. This is a rare case of gastric rupture as a complication of CPR, which to date, has been documented in only 8 cases including ours in the Japanese literature. Gastric rupture as a complication of CPR has never been reported as the direct cause of death among the deceased cases. Nonetheless, our report as well as those of the past underscore the importance of correctly administering CPR so as to avoid complications such as gastric rupture.
