JRSM > Volume 100, Number 12 > Pp. 552-557

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Reviews

The Lazarus phenomenon

Vedamurthy Adhiyaman¹ Sonja Adhiyaman²   Radha Sundaram³

¹ Consultant Geriatrician, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Glan Clwyd District Hospital, Rhyl, Denbighshire LL18 5UJ, UK
² General Practitioner, The Laurels, 73 Church Street, Flint, Flintshire CH6 5AF, UK
³ SpR in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, Intensive Care Unit, Western Infirmary, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow G11 6NT, UK

Correspondence to: V Adhiyaman Email: Vedamurthy.Adhiyaman{at}cd-trust.wales.nhs.uk

SUMMARY

Even though Lazarus phenomenon is rare, it is probably under reported. There is no doubt that Lazarus phenomenon is a reality but so far the scientific explanations have been inadequate. So far the only plausible explanation at least in some cases is auto-PEEP and impaired venous return. In patients with PEA or asystole, dynamic hyperinflation should considered as a cause and a short period of apnoea (30-60 seconds) should be tried before stopping resuscitation. Since ROSC occurred within 10 minutes in most cases, patients should be passively monitored for at least 10 minutes after the cessation of CPR before confirming death.

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