CASE REPORT   

Medicina dello Sport 2021 March;74(1):140-5

DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.21.03817-5

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Dribbling death: a case of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a recreational athlete

Pedro VON HAFE ✉, Geraldo DIAS, Filipa CARDOSO, Sérgio LEITE, António LOURENÇO

Department of Cardiology, Senhora da Oliveira Hospital, Guimarães, Portugal

Regular physical exercise is recommended by the medical community because it is associated with a decrease in all cause-mortality. Although, vigorous exertion may increase the risk of acute coronary events. Our case describes a recreational athlete who had a cardiac arrest successfully recovered using automatic external defibrillator by teammates, having subsequently been submitted to cardiac surgery for having severe coronary disease. Medical contact with medical history and physical examination is essential to filter athletes (namely >35 years old) who need a more complete study. There is a very high survival rate in cardiac arrest cases witnessed. We consider useful the training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation of first responders and the access to an automatic external defibrillator with connection to the local medical emergency system, in each sports center and stadium.

KEY WORDS: Leisure activities; Heart arrest; Defibrillators