Lazarus phenomenon

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The Lazarus phenomenon is the unexpected return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after resuscitation has been abandoned. The term is named after Lazarus, who according to the Bible was raised from the dead by Jesus.

Although no single cause has been identified, there have been several mechanisms of survival postulated for Lazarus phenomenon patients. Hyperkalaemia associated with renal failure can cause cardiac arrest, and in one such case survival has been documented, with appropriate treatment, after 26 minutes of asystole.

Also, in most cases in cardiac arrest the EEG becomes flat within about 10 seconds.^[1]

Related Chapters

References

↑ van Lommel P, van Wees R, Meyers V, Elfferich I. (2001) Near-Death Experience in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest: A prospective Study in the Netherlands. Lancet, Dec 15;358(9298):2039-45.

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[1] van Lommel P, van Wees R, Meyers V, Elfferich I. (2001) Near-Death Experience in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest: A prospective Study in the Netherlands. Lancet, Dec 15;358(9298):2039-45.

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