Author/Authors :
Agrawal, Ankit Division of Internal Medicine Rutgers Robert Wood - Johnson Medical School - Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Jersey, USA , Cardinale, Maria Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy - Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA , Frenia, Douglas Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine - Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Jersey, USA , Dalia, Tarun Division of Internal Medicine - University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, USA , Shah, Chirag Division of Cardiovascular Sciences Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Jersey, USA
Abstract :
Cardiac arrest in an event of acute myocardial infarction most commonly results in life-threatening ventricular tachycardia or
ventricular fibrillation (VF). Patients who remain in VF despite optimal epinephrine, amiodarone, and three or more attempts
at 200 joules of biphasic current defibrillation are known to be in an electrical storm. Here, we describe a case of defibrillation
refractory VF responding to intravenous esmolol resulting in a successful return of spontaneous circulation. Learning objective.
This case reinforces the growing body of evidence supporting esmolol as a novel treatment approach for refractory VF before
the cessation of resuscitative efforts.
