A case report of stomach perforation during automatic mechanical chest compression following pulseless electrical activity due to cibenzoline intoxication

BACKGROUND: The current report describes a case of stomach perforation, a rare but serious complication, that occurred during cardiopulmonary resuscitation following severe cibenzoline intoxication. CASE PRESENTATION: A woman aged in her 30s was brought into our hospital while receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation for pulseless electrical activity. After starting extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), her abdominal X‐ray examination revealed free air in her abdomen. She was diagnosed with internal gastric perforation. An emergency operation was carried out while the circulation was maintained using ECMO. As the patient’s blood cibenzoline concentration on admission was 3,868 ng/mL, she was diagnosed with cibenzoline intoxication caused by the self‐intake of twice the prescribed dose. She was successfully weaned off ECMO and discharged alive with full recovery. CONCLUSION: We successfully treated a case of gastric perforation after pulseless electrical activity requiring ECMO support due to cibenzoline intoxication. Abdominal surgery can be carried out even if ECMO support is needed.