Acute thrombosis of subclavian artery during CPR

The case of a 73-year-old man who developed acute thrombosis of the left subclavian artery during CPR is presented. The patient was known to have severe chronic obstructive lung disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and severe peripheral vascular disease. He was admitted with ventricular fibrillation. CPR was successful, and the ECG revealed acute extensive anterior and recurrent inferior wall myocardial infarctions. Soon after, acute occlusion of the left subclavian artery was diagnosed. Thrombectomy was performed and circulation was restored to the left upper limb. The patient died 12 hours later from severe bradycardia and asystole.