AUTHOR=Yang Haowen , Li Yuehong , Peng Xiongbing , Li Zhaojun , Liu Peiwan , Fang Xingbao 

TITLE=Case Report: Experience of a case of cardiac arrest caused by postoperative pulmonary embolism and hepatic rupture induced by cardiopulmonary resuscitation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1624064

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2025.1624064

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=Postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) poses a serious threat to a patient's life. However, cases involving concurrent liver rupture are exceedingly rare. This report describes a case of a patient who experienced cardiac arrest due to PE following lower extremity varicose vein surgery, followed by liver rupture during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Under the timely intervention of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), the patient underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-assisted resuscitation and hepatic repair surgery. Through a staged anticoagulation strategy, a balance was achieved between bleeding control and thrombosis prevention. Ultimately, after 23 days of treatment, the patient regained consciousness and was transferred to rehabilitation.