Lazarus syndrome

This article is about the medical phenomenon. For the TV movie, see The Lazarus Syndrome.
Not to be confused with Lazarus sign.

Lazarus Syndrome
Other namesLazarus phenomenon, Lazarus heart, autoresuscitation after failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation
SpecialtyCardiology

Lazarus syndrome (the Lazarus heart), also known as autoresuscitation after failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation,[1] is the spontaneous return of a normal cardiac rhythm after failed attempts at resuscitation. It is also used to refer to the spontaneous return of cardiac activity after the patient has been pronounced dead.[2] Its occurrence has been noted in medical literature at least 38 times since 1982.[3][4] It takes its name from Lazarus who, according to the New Testament, was raised from the dead by Jesus.[5]

Occurrences of the syndrome are extremely rare, and the causes are not well understood. One hypothesis 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.[5]

  1. ^ Hornby K, Hornby L, Shemie SD (May 2010). "A systematic review of autoresuscitation after cardiac arrest". Crit. Care Med. 39 (5): 1246–53. doi:10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181d8caaa. PMID 20228683. S2CID 25038385.
  2. ^ a b Ben-David M.D., Bruce; et al. (2001). "Survival After Failed Intraoperative Resuscitation: A Case of "Lazarus Syndrome"". Anesthesia & Analgesia. 92 (3): 690–92. doi:10.1213/00000539-200103000-00027. PMID 11226103.
  3. ^ Adhiyaman, Vedamurthy; Adhiyaman, Sonja; Sundaram, Radha (2007). "The Lazarus phenomenon". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 100 (12): 552–57. doi:10.1177/0141076807100012013. PMC 2121643. PMID 18065707.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference delaware-case was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Walker, A.; H. McClelland; J. Brenchley (2001). "The Lazarus Documentary following recreational drug use". Emerg Med J. 18 (1): 74–75. doi:10.1136/emj.18.1.74. PMC 1725503. PMID 11310473.