[Theophylline (aminophylline) and asystole. Case report and a brief review of the literature].

We report the use of the non-specific adenosine antagonist theophylline (aminophylline) during a prolonged intraoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) due to myocardial infarction. In the 2005 guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council the general use of theophylline during CPR is not recommended, but in the case of an atropine and epinephrine resistant asystole, especially as a result of inferior myocardial infarction, theophylline might be a useful adjunct during CPR.