Lazarus syndrome or autoresuscitation after failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation is
the spontaneous return of circulation after failed attempts at resuscitation.
Its occurrence has been noted in medical literature at least 25 times since 1982.
Also called Lazarus phenomenon, it takes its name from Lazarus who,
in the New Testament account, was raised from the dead by Jesus.
Occurrences of the syndrome are extremely rare and the causes are not well understood.
One theory for the phenomenon is that a chief factor (though not the only one) is the buildup of pressure in
the chest as a result of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The relaxation of pressure after resuscitation efforts have ended is thought to allow the heart to expand,
triggering the heart's electrical impulses and restarting the heartbeat.
Other possible factors are hyperkalemia or high doses of epinephrine...
(Excerpt from Wikipedia article)
the spontaneous return of circulation after failed attempts at resuscitation.
Its occurrence has been noted in medical literature at least 25 times since 1982.
Also called Lazarus phenomenon, it takes its name from Lazarus who,
in the New Testament account, was raised from the dead by Jesus.
Occurrences of the syndrome are extremely rare and the causes are not well understood.
One theory for the phenomenon is that a chief factor (though not the only one) is the buildup of pressure in
the chest as a result of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The relaxation of pressure after resuscitation efforts have ended is thought to allow the heart to expand,
triggering the heart's electrical impulses and restarting the heartbeat.
Other possible factors are hyperkalemia or high doses of epinephrine...
(Excerpt from Wikipedia article)
_______________________
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Feast day of Saint Victor
06:30 - Startled awake to the sound of the "death rattle" or perhaps Sasha seizing on the kitchen floor.
When I found him in the kitchen, he was completely stretched out. laying half on and off a large scratch board he loves to sleep and sit on.
He was not breathing, his pupils were completely dilated and his little body was stiff.
Of course, I panicked. I called his name, shook him, poked him, started kissing him, but nothing.
I listened for breathing or a heart beat, but their was nothing - he was stiff and appeared dead.
I started crying and let out one of those shrieking inhales when one is crying hysterically and lo and behold,
the shriek was so loud, Sasha suddenly jumped, his head lifted (pupils still dilated) and looking terrified.
With more hysterical crying on my end, I picked him up and put him over my shoulder (like you would burp a baby) and gently patted his back.
He started panting hard, mouth open, tongue out, pupils still dilated and I was certain this was the end.
I took him out on the deck to get as much fresh air in him as possible and for the next two hours,
I didn't put him down even when using the WC.
His pupils remained dilated and his breathing was rapid and shallow - all final moment signs.
It was a perfect summer morning, sun slowly rising and little birds chirping.
I kept talking to him through my tears, showing him the birds, traffic, anything to stimulate him.
There were gardeners working nearby and the sounds of their equipment was good for Sasha's senses.
Finally, when all hope seemed lost, I put him in his little wheelchair, hoping the upright position would open up his lungs more.
Thank God for that decision.
Within a few seconds, he started walking around the deck, slowly, a bit disoriented, but slowly investigating every nook and cranny.
His pupils were still not fully constricted and because it was so bright, that was not good.
I brought Sasha back in, expressed bladder and bowels and syringe fed a couple drops of water, just to moisten his mouth.
Back outside we went.
10:00 - Finally, my vet was open and I spoke with him telling him what happened.
The vet said it may have been a seizure, but without breathing and no sound of a heartbeat, he said he really wasn't sure.
I didn't want to syringe feed at this point, but he needed hydration and all I remember thinking was
I didn't want Sasha's last memory of me being sticking a needle in him.
Of course, my vet said to give him sub-Qs. It took me 2 hours to decide if I had the strength to poke him again.
The last two sessions were disastrous and Sasha won those battles...
12:30 - Steeling myself, rather than bring him inside, I hanged the LRS bag from an outside window frame
above where Sasha was resting and very successfully administered 150ml with no complaint.
Immediately afterward, Sasha drank about 30ml of water from his favourite little glass as I held it for him.
I also gave him 1ml Amoxicillin.
16:30 - Sasha had revived enough that I felt it safe to syringe feed a little.
Expressed his bladder again, but I didn't hear much action in the intestines and that worried me.
Normally, I will hear digestive sounds, but all was quiet, so I didn't want to tax his system with a full syringe feed.
He accepted the food well and back out on the deck we went.
We spent the rest of the day and into the early evening out on the deck and slowly, but surely, Sasha came back.
He ate and drank more on his own than he had for a while,
which made me think about cutting back on the regular syringe feeding.
21:30 - Finally got the call from the only vet in the area who makes house calls.
When I repeated the day's events, he said he could not do more than I was already doing and
felt I had everything under control and to just continue the sub-Qs daily.
We joked about my husband always saying my hysterical crying could wake someone from the dead and
we agreed, at least this once, my husband was right about something!
That night, I slept on the floor next to Sasha with one hand on his rear legs and holding a key-chain flashlight in the other,
to do spot breathing checks during the night.
His breathing was shaky all day - sometimes rapid and gasping, sometimes shallow and slow,
but thanks to all those prayers and good vibes, we're still here and fighting.
If you look at the "July 2012 Photos" tab above, there are photos of Sasha a few hours after the scare and the next day
Last week was tough. Monday we moved, Tuesday, my mother-in-law (in Bulgaria) passed away after a year long battle with colon cancer,
so I was balancing trans-Atlantic support for my husband, caring for Sasha,
keeping my online business flowing without interruption and trying to find the box with my underwear!
Sasha's breathing is back to normal (as I type this) and he ate most of his food overnight.
His ears, nose and tongue are pink and other than additional weakness (I am thinking Sasha seized, but we will never really know),
all is back to normal, with the exception of my being hyper-vigilant for any new signs of distress.
We have an appointment on Friday with a holistic vet in the area and other than that, I am not taking Sasha out of the house.
Bargaining for time until Friday, please keep those prayers and good vibes flowing.
They are being heard and being received!
Leah & Sasha (a/k/a Alexander the Great)
Feast day of Saint Victor
06:30 - Startled awake to the sound of the "death rattle" or perhaps Sasha seizing on the kitchen floor.
When I found him in the kitchen, he was completely stretched out. laying half on and off a large scratch board he loves to sleep and sit on.
He was not breathing, his pupils were completely dilated and his little body was stiff.
Of course, I panicked. I called his name, shook him, poked him, started kissing him, but nothing.
I listened for breathing or a heart beat, but their was nothing - he was stiff and appeared dead.
I started crying and let out one of those shrieking inhales when one is crying hysterically and lo and behold,
the shriek was so loud, Sasha suddenly jumped, his head lifted (pupils still dilated) and looking terrified.
With more hysterical crying on my end, I picked him up and put him over my shoulder (like you would burp a baby) and gently patted his back.
He started panting hard, mouth open, tongue out, pupils still dilated and I was certain this was the end.
I took him out on the deck to get as much fresh air in him as possible and for the next two hours,
I didn't put him down even when using the WC.
His pupils remained dilated and his breathing was rapid and shallow - all final moment signs.
It was a perfect summer morning, sun slowly rising and little birds chirping.
I kept talking to him through my tears, showing him the birds, traffic, anything to stimulate him.
There were gardeners working nearby and the sounds of their equipment was good for Sasha's senses.
Finally, when all hope seemed lost, I put him in his little wheelchair, hoping the upright position would open up his lungs more.
Thank God for that decision.
Within a few seconds, he started walking around the deck, slowly, a bit disoriented, but slowly investigating every nook and cranny.
His pupils were still not fully constricted and because it was so bright, that was not good.
I brought Sasha back in, expressed bladder and bowels and syringe fed a couple drops of water, just to moisten his mouth.
Back outside we went.
10:00 - Finally, my vet was open and I spoke with him telling him what happened.
The vet said it may have been a seizure, but without breathing and no sound of a heartbeat, he said he really wasn't sure.
I didn't want to syringe feed at this point, but he needed hydration and all I remember thinking was
I didn't want Sasha's last memory of me being sticking a needle in him.
Of course, my vet said to give him sub-Qs. It took me 2 hours to decide if I had the strength to poke him again.
The last two sessions were disastrous and Sasha won those battles...
12:30 - Steeling myself, rather than bring him inside, I hanged the LRS bag from an outside window frame
above where Sasha was resting and very successfully administered 150ml with no complaint.
Immediately afterward, Sasha drank about 30ml of water from his favourite little glass as I held it for him.
I also gave him 1ml Amoxicillin.
16:30 - Sasha had revived enough that I felt it safe to syringe feed a little.
Expressed his bladder again, but I didn't hear much action in the intestines and that worried me.
Normally, I will hear digestive sounds, but all was quiet, so I didn't want to tax his system with a full syringe feed.
He accepted the food well and back out on the deck we went.
We spent the rest of the day and into the early evening out on the deck and slowly, but surely, Sasha came back.
He ate and drank more on his own than he had for a while,
which made me think about cutting back on the regular syringe feeding.
21:30 - Finally got the call from the only vet in the area who makes house calls.
When I repeated the day's events, he said he could not do more than I was already doing and
felt I had everything under control and to just continue the sub-Qs daily.
We joked about my husband always saying my hysterical crying could wake someone from the dead and
we agreed, at least this once, my husband was right about something!
That night, I slept on the floor next to Sasha with one hand on his rear legs and holding a key-chain flashlight in the other,
to do spot breathing checks during the night.
His breathing was shaky all day - sometimes rapid and gasping, sometimes shallow and slow,
but thanks to all those prayers and good vibes, we're still here and fighting.
If you look at the "July 2012 Photos" tab above, there are photos of Sasha a few hours after the scare and the next day
Last week was tough. Monday we moved, Tuesday, my mother-in-law (in Bulgaria) passed away after a year long battle with colon cancer,
so I was balancing trans-Atlantic support for my husband, caring for Sasha,
keeping my online business flowing without interruption and trying to find the box with my underwear!
Sasha's breathing is back to normal (as I type this) and he ate most of his food overnight.
His ears, nose and tongue are pink and other than additional weakness (I am thinking Sasha seized, but we will never really know),
all is back to normal, with the exception of my being hyper-vigilant for any new signs of distress.
We have an appointment on Friday with a holistic vet in the area and other than that, I am not taking Sasha out of the house.
Bargaining for time until Friday, please keep those prayers and good vibes flowing.
They are being heard and being received!
Leah & Sasha (a/k/a Alexander the Great)