This is called air trapping.Īs the air builds up, the pressure inside your chest increases. When air is pushed into your lungs too rapidly during CPR ( hyperventilation), there’s no time to exhale it, so it builds up. It’s more likely to happen if you have chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Air trappingĪir trapping is the most common explanation for Lazarus syndrome.

It’s not known why Lazarus syndrome happens, but there are several theories that may explain it. fixed and dilated pupils that don’t respond to light.Most importantly, medical personnel need to confirm the loss of function of multiple organs before declaring death. disconnecting the device used for ventilation for 10 seconds to relieve air trapping when it’s suspected.keeping a heart monitor attached to the person to confirm loss of a heart rhythm for 10 minutes or more.waiting at least 10 minutes after CPR stops before declaring someone dead.You aren’t actually considered dead until the function of all your organs, including your brain, irreversibly stop.ĭeclaring someone dead immediately after CPR stops leaves the door open for Lazarus syndrome to occur.

Many people think that death occurs as soon as the heart stops beating and breathing ceases.īut in fact, death is a process in which all your organs necessary for life progressively fail.

In Lazarus syndrome, “death” doesn’t last nearly as long.Īccording to a 2020 research review, In most documented cases of Lazarus syndrome, circulation typically returned within 10 minutes of stopping CPR. How soon after death does Lazarus syndrome happen?Īccording to the Bible, Lazarus was dead for 4 days before Jesus brought him back to life.

Coming back to life