Radiofrequency Ablation Patient Suffers Cerebral Hypoxia

Case Overview

This case involves a middle aged man who underwent radiofrequency ablation to treat arthritis pain. During the procedure, the patient was reported to have an abnormally declining heart rate and within minutes coded. Surgeons stopped the procedure and attempted to resuscitate him, but did not have proper equipment to do so effectively. EMS did not arrive until 15 minutes after the patient coded and the surgeon’s resuscitation efforts were not working. EMS were able to intubate him but his oxygen saturation had reached dangerously low levels. He subsequently suffered from cerebral hypoxia and died from his injuries.