Safe Intravenous Thrombolysis after Traumatic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with Rib Fractures: A Case Report

Abstract

We report a case of successful intravenous thrombolysis for a distal middle cerebral artery occlusion shortly after traumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to an episode of ventricular tachycardia. A high prevalence of fatal cardiac arrhythmias in acute stroke patients raises the question of safety when administrating thrombolytic therapy after traumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation; guidelines do not provide a satisfactory statement about this. Our case suggests that intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke can be administered after a thorough risk-to-benefit evaluation without major adverse effects in patients after traumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as bleeding complications seem rare and can be monitored and treated.