Vaughan Bertram Author
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Author(s): Yasutaka Konishi and Vaughan Bertram
Background
Intraoperative resuscitation of patients in positions other than supine is inherently difficult. Rapidly returning patients supine requires a coordinated effort and is seldom rehearsed by theatre teams.
Case presentation
A 77-year-old female with severe pulmonary hypertension was scheduled to undergo a hemiarthroplasty repair for a fractured neck of femur. Under general anesthesia in the left lateral decubitus position, a massive embolus provoked during cement pressurization of the femur caused cardiovascular collapse and irretrievable right heart failure. Cardiac compressions were performed in the lateral position for approximately 8 minutes before the patient was turned supine. Intraoperative death was declared... view moreĀ»