Hypoglycemic cardiac arrest and rapid return-of-spontaneous circulation (ROSC) with dextrose

Abstract

Hypoglycemia was part of the "H's and T's" in the 2005 American Heart Association ACLS guidelines for reversible causes of cardiac arrest but was removed in subsequent editions. We present a case of return of spontaneous circulation in a patient with cardiac arrest after administration of dextrose for hypoglycemia. Routine administration of dextrose to patients in cardiac arrest has been shown to be associated with increased mortality and worse neurological outcomes. However, this case reminds the clinician to consider hypoglycemia in patients with cardiac arrest, and to attempt correcting a low blood glucose if noted.