Survival from cardiac arrest due to sushi suffocation

Sushi suffocation is relatively uncommon, and it is an unignorable cause of sudden death; however, no reports on sushi suffocation have been published.

A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital for post resuscitative intensive care. He had choked on sushi and collapsed in the dining room of a mental hospital. A nursing assistant summoned a physician who attempted to extract the sushi. External cardiac massage was initiated after 7 minutes had elapsed and followed by endotracheal intubation. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved after 7 minutes of resuscitation. A bronchoscopy demonstrated a large amount of shari in the trachea and right bronchus, which was removed with alligator forceps and a wire basket.

Neurological recovery was evident on day 2 of admission. He was transferred back to the mental hospital with no neurological complications.

Emergency physicians should consider sushi suffocation, including its clinical features and management.