# Cardiac arrest caused by acute gastric dilatation in a bulimia patient: a case report

## TL;DR

A bulimia patient developed life-threatening stomach swelling after binge eating, leading to cardiac arrest and death despite emergency treatments.

## Contribution

This case highlights the rare but severe complication of acute gastric dilatation in bulimia and the limitations of ECMO in non-cardiogenic shock.

## Key findings

- Acute gastric dilatation can lead to cardiac arrest in bulimia patients.
- ECMO may be insufficient for managing non-cardiogenic shock in such cases.
- Early surgical intervention is crucial for preventing fatal outcomes.

## Abstract

This case report describes a young female patient with a long-standing history of bulimia nervosa a who developed acute gastric dilatation (AGD) following a binge-eating episode. The patient declined surgical intervention, leading to rapid clinical deterioration and cardiac arrest. Despite achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), followed by emergency surgery and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, she remained hemodynamically unstable and eventually died. This case highlights the critical severity of AGD and underscores the importance of early surgical intervention, while also discussing the limitations of ECMO in managing non-cardiogenic shock.