Nitroglycerin administration during cardiac arrest caused by coronary vasospasm secondary to misoprostol.

ABSTRACT

There have been no reports of successful resuscitation using nitroglycerin (NTG) for cardiac arrest due to definitive coronary vasospasm. A 42-year-old female was brought to the Emergency Department in ventricular fibrillation after being found collapsed with the consumption of misoprostol. NTG, a potent coronary arterial dilator, not typically used in the management of cardiac arrest, was administered after 27 min of resuscitation efforts following advanced cardiac life support. NTG aided in the return of spontaneous circulation during a ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest in the setting of prostaglandin use. <Learning objective: Nitroglycerin is not typically employed in the management of cardiac arrest. We report successful cardiac resuscitation after administration of intravenous nitroglycerin during a prolonged cardiac arrest event secondary to coronary artery vasospasm in the setting of recent misoprostol ingestion. Nitroglycerin may have a role in cardiac arrest in the setting of coronary vasospasm.>.