Abstract
Patient awareness or apparent consciousness during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a less-described scenario in the field of emergency medicine. A small but crucial quantity of cerebral blood flow is usually generated by chest compressions, and it is hypothesized that, due to various mechanisms, the cerebral perfusion pressure generated could be high enough to allow the patient to remain conscious. The existence of clinical indicators of cerebral perfusion during CPR despite having no return of spontaneous circulation known as CPR-Induced Consciousness (CPR-IC)1, 14.
Here we report a case of a 23-year-old male with acute Left Anterior Descending Artery (LAD) occlusion leading to cardiac arrest, where the patient displayed signs of awareness during CPR. Since such a level of consciousness is usually associated with the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), this can lead to confusion among the life support providers, and could hinder resuscitation efforts. Therefore, recognition of this phenomenon is vital, and gentle restraint and sedation are acceptable management strategies for the condition.