• Kjetil Sunde.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. kjetil.sunde@medisin.uio.no
• Crit. Care Med. 2008 Nov 1; 36 (11 Suppl): S405-8.

BackgroundCoronary heart disease is the most frequent cause of cardiac arrest. Return of spontaneous circulation is often not achieved during resuscitation due to the inability to restore coronary blood flow.ObjectiveTo review the literature with the aim of documenting if coronary angiography and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention is feasible during continuous mechanical chest compressions.ResultsOne experimental pig study, some case reports (of different size), and one recent abstract have documented the use of continuous mechanical chest compressions with the Lund University Cardiac Arrest System during angiographic procedures and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention during cardiac arrest. If the arrest occurs in-hospital, especially during the angiographic procedure, the potential for successful outcome seems to be better.ConclusionsCoronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention is feasible during continuous mechanical chest compressions. This could be an alternative approach in cardiac arrest patients with suspected myocardial infarction who do not achieve return of spontaneous circulation with traditional resuscitation techniques.

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