This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Uros Roessmann, MD
Institute of Pathol Case Western Reserve Univ 2085 Adelbert Rd Cleveland, OH 44106

Lawrence E. Zarchin, MD
Neurological Associates, PC 8301 Arlington Blvd Fairfax, VA 22031

Arch Neurol. 1979;36(1):58.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

The complications of closed chest cardiac massage (CCCM) have included pneumothorax, hemothorax, cardiac contusion, and pulmonary bone marrow-fat emboli. We report a case of bone marrow embolus in a cerebral artery after CCCM.

Report of a Case.—

A 77-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of progressive confusion, weakness, and an 18-kg weight loss. Examination showed signs of dehydration, cachexia, and confusion. Chest roentgenogram showed severe diffuse interstitial nodular pulmonary disease. Cardiopulmonary arrest occurred 17 hours after admission. Closed chest cardiac massage, intubation, and defibrillation were performed. Several intracardiac adrenaline injections were administered. Necropsy disclosed widespread miliary tuberculosis. A bone marrow embolus was found lodged in a cerebral artery (Figure).

Comment.—

The incidence of pulmonary bone marrow and fat emboli after CCCM is quite high.¹ Bone marrow embolus of the brain, however, is an extraordinary event. Of the four reported cases, one had a patent foramen ovale,² and the other three had . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?