Factors Promoting Survival After Prolonged Resuscitation Attempts: A Case of Survival With Good Neurological Outcome Following 60 Minutes of Downtime After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac arrest is a significant cause of death affecting approximately 25,000 people in Australia annually.

METHODS: We present an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with prolonged down time and recurrent ventricular arrhythmias treated with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation.

RESULTS: The patient survived to hospital discharge with good neurological outcome.

CONCLUSION: The patient's excellent outcome was a result of immediate good quality CPR, high level premorbid function, reversible cause of arrest and rapid access to an ECMO centre.