Hemorrhaging Of The Tongue Due To The Use Of A Mechanical Chest Compression Device.

Abstract

Following a cardiac arrest, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation may improve cardiac and brain resuscitation. The desire to provide optimal chest compressions led to the development of automated mechanical chest compression devices. A 79-yearold man had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a traffic accident. On the patient’s arrival to the hospital, the medical staff used a mechanical chest compression device on him. At autopsy, no petechial hemorrhages were present in his conjunctivae, but hemorrhagic infarctions of the tongue were observed. His death was attributed to skull base fractures. Hemorrhages of the tongue had been observed after chest compressions by automated mechanical devices.