PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF PERIOPERATIVE CARDIAC ARREST #NSP7 Something I took from Emma’s talk about her own experience of perioperative cardiac arrest (which in her case was likely in the context of arrhythmia & relatively brief) was…. WHAT A LONG TAIL OF CONSEQUENCES IT HAD -waking up confused & uncertain with chest pain from CPR & arm pain from an arterial line -a slow recovery physically -a psychological burden that persists -an apparent psychological burden on the perioperative team -a long period of further clinical care *recovery from surgery that had to be truncated due to the arrest *cardiology investigation & diagnosis followed by implantation of a defibrillator *ongoing cardiology follow up -the complexity & impact on others of communication after an unexpected cardiac arrest to family (which was done thoroughly & well) For all patients who have a preoperative cardiac arrest, the experience & events will be different & perhaps unique We were not able to follow up patients so we missed this narrative in #NAP7 Many thanks Emma.
