Cardiac arrest after cervical spine mobilization

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Neurology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Manual mobilization of the cervical spine is a common procedure.
• Anesthesia is typically not used for these procedures.
• Cardiorespiratory arrest is a rare but serious complication.

Observation:

• A 38-year-old male patient underwent cervical spine mobilization without anesthesia.
• Immediately following the procedure, the patient experienced cardiorespiratory arrest.

Findings:

• The case report details a sudden and unexpected cardiorespiratory event.
• The temporal association suggests a potential link between the mobilization and the arrest.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of patient monitoring during and after cervical spine manipulation.
• Further research may be needed to understand the mechanisms and risk factors for such adverse events.
• Clinicians should exercise caution and consider patient-specific risk factors before performing cervical spine mobilization.