Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction following prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Thrombolytic therapy was administered to a 49-year-old woman with an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction after having prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 13 minutes. On admission, there was no clinical or radiographic evidence of gross trauma. There was no significant morbidity and the patient recovered to a completely functional status. The literature of thrombolytic therapy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation is reviewed. In the absence of gross trauma from cardiopulmonary resuscitation, thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction should not necessarily be excluded because of the duration of resuscitation. Further experience with such patients will shed additional light on efficacy and safety.