Delayed Rupture of the Spleen After Cardiac Massage

Abstract

THE widespread practice of external cardiac massage has drawn growing attention to the complications of this vigorous and often traumatic treatment. Although most of these complications are detected early and their mechanisms easily understood, others may become evident only after a marked delay and when their time relationship to the cardiac massage is no longer clear. Such a case of late and life-threatening complication is presented here. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 57-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room of the Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, because of chest pain of several hours' duration, radiating into the left arm and associated with nausea and diaphoresis and syncope. She had two episodes of ventricular fibrillation, during which she received external cardiac massage. The ECG showed a pattern of inferior wall myocardial infarction, and her enzyme levels were elevated. On the 13th hospital day, the patient complained of pain in the