A prolonged but successful resuscitation of a patient struck by lightning.

A case of a person struck by lightning is presented in which treatment consisted of 60 min of resuscitation, followed by a 3 day period of artificial ventilation. Persons who are struck by lightning might benefit from prolonged resuscitation efforts, since patients such as this one, as well as similar cases described in the literature, have survived without major sequelae. In our opinion, on-the-spot advanced life support, hypothermia and a moderate rehydration policy contributed to this patient's successful resuscitation.