Reviving dead people in the movies.

[PaloAltoCougar]

One of the more shocking and bizarre scenes in Pulp Fiction was when the OD'd Uma Thurman gets brought back to life by having a syringe's needle jammed directly into her heart. She popped up instantly, gasped for air, and was pretty much back to normal.

I've seen similar scenes in more recent movies, such that it's becoming rather trite. My questions, for the physicians, would-be or otherwise, are:

1. Is such a treatment ever actually done? If so, I assume that's a rather touch needle to get through the sternum, or does one approach from the side between the ribs?

2. What drug is used?

3. If effective, are the results immediate or anything like that shown in film?

BTW, I assume real physicians roll their eyes at much of the medical stuff on the screen as lawyers do at the legal stuff.

[TripletDaddy]

This also happens in The Rock, when Nicholas Coppola injects himself with antidote. Doesn't the needle break?

[Pheidippides]

This also happens in The Rock, when Nicholas Coppola injects himself with antidote. Doesn't the needle break?

I love the ones (I think the Rock was one) where they just inject the needle in and lay there, almost dead, and then come back despite the fact that nobody has pressed the plunger on the syringe.

[Donuthole]

I used to get annoyed by these types of injections, but my Smallville guilty pleasure has since rendered me indifferent.

[MarkGrace]

I used to get annoyed by these types of injections, but my Smallville guilty pleasure has since rendered me indifferent.

Ha. But at least with Smallville you can claim it's a comic book!

[TripletDaddy]

Since we are on the topic of movie faux-magic, one movie power that I think would be really cool to have is the ability to dip the tip of my finger into a substance, taste it, and then determine within seconds exactly what it was.

It seems that most cops in movies are able to tell raw opium from heroin from various grades of cocaine to arsenic, strychnine, and iocane powder.

I have always wanted to be able to to do this.

[BigPiney]

Since we are on the topic of movie faux-magic, one movie power that I think would be really cool to have is the ability to dip the tip of my finger into a substance, taste it, and then determine within seconds exactly what it was.

It seems that most cops in movies are able to tell raw opium from heroin from various grades of cocaine to arsenic, strychnine, and iocane powder.

I have always wanted to be able to to do this.

I have this pretty much down with sugar and salt. Those baking sodas and powder can get me confused.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Since we are on the topic of movie faux-magic...

And I'm amazed at the fighting prowess of so many who, with only one punch, always knock out the recipient. Ali, Foreman, Tyson and others usually had to administer many blows, and often went many rounds without getting a knockout, but I assume that's solely because they were wearing gloves.

Seriously, I'd welcome a movie when, after somebody delivers a blow that you know will lead to the victim getting knocked out (it's the movies, after all), the victim simply rubs his chin and says, "Ow!"

[Senioritis]

And I'm amazed at the fighting prowess of so many who, with only one punch, always knock out the recipient.

"Candygram for Mongo."

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[Solon]

One of the more shocking and bizarre scenes in Pulp Fiction was when the OD'd Uma Thurman gets brought back to life by having a syringe's needle jammed directly into her heart. She popped up instantly, gasped for air, and was pretty much back to normal.

I've seen similar scenes in more recent movies, such that it's becoming rather trite. My questions, for the physicians, would-be or otherwise, are:

1. Is such a treatment ever actually done? If so, I assume that's a rather touch needle to get through the sternum, or does one approach from the side between the ribs?

2. What drug is used?

3. If effective, are the results immediate or anything like that shown in film?

BTW, I assume real physicians roll their eyes at much of the medical stuff on the screen as lawyers do at the legal stuff.

In Pulp Fiction, it was Adrenaline that Vince Vega injected (if my memory serves me well). But I'm not a doctor.

[PaloAltoCougar]

"Candygram for Mongo."

And outstanding moment in cinema, and totally believable. "Mongo only pawn in game of life."

[ERCougar]

One of the more shocking and bizarre scenes in Pulp Fiction was when the OD'd Uma Thurman gets brought back to life by having a syringe's needle jammed directly into her heart. She popped up instantly, gasped for air, and was pretty much back to normal.

I've seen similar scenes in more recent movies, such that it's becoming rather trite. My questions, for the physicians, would-be or otherwise, are:

1. Is such a treatment ever actually done? If so, I assume that's a rather touch needle to get through the sternum, or does one approach from the side between the ribs?

2. What drug is used?

3. If effective, are the results immediate or anything like that shown in film?

BTW, I assume real physicians roll their eyes at much of the medical stuff on the screen as lawyers do at the legal stuff.

1. No, it's never done. It's true that epinephrine can make a dead heart beat for a minute or so, but as soon as it wears off, the heart would again stop.

2. Adrenaline (another name for epinephrine).

3. The results would be nothing like the film. You would feel a pulse return, but the person would certainly not sit up and start talking to you.

[PaloAltoCougar]

1. No, it's never done. It's true that epinephrine can make a dead heart beat for a minute or so, but as soon as it wears off, the heart would again stop.

2. Adrenaline (another name for epinephrine).

3. The results would be nothing like the film. You would feel a pulse return, but the person would certainly not sit up and start talking to you.

Thanks, I was hoping you'd respond. And that's pretty much what I expected. Still, another bubble burst...

[CardiacCoug]

1. No, it's never done. It's true that epinephrine can make a dead heart beat for a minute or so, but as soon as it wears off, the heart would again stop.

2. Adrenaline (another name for epinephrine).

3. The results would be nothing like the film. You would feel a pulse return, but the person would certainly not sit up and start talking to you.

I agree with this, although I have seen a cardiac surgeon cut apart sternal wires and directly inject a milligram of epinephrine into the heart of a post-operative patient who was dying. He did this while he massaged the heart with the other hand.

Maybe he got the idea from the movies -- I don't think it really worked.

[myboynoah]

And I'm amazed at the fighting prowess of so many who, with only one punch, always knock out the recipient.

Or when Spock does that shoulder pinchy thing and people pass out. Give me a break.