Neuro protective effect of barbiturates leading to successful cerebral recovery after drug induced cardiac arrest and following severe multi organ fail

Abstract

Results 23 year old woman suffered cardiac arrest due to a combined drug overdose with high doses of barbiturates, benzodiazepines and opioids. The patient was found unconscious and after 8 minutes of successful resuscitation transferred to the ICU where she rapidly developed multi organ failure due to the hypoxia and hypo perfusion during the time of cardiac arrest. The organ failure included lever, kidney, lung, pancreas and coagulation, but due to the neuron protective effect of barbiturates, there were no symptoms of cerebral damage. After weeks of stabilizing organ functions the patient was discharged with sustained damage to the kidneys, but no sign of cerebral damage.