(Spoilers for this week’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” inside.)
As if “Grey’s Anatomy” wasn’t already dramatic enough, Thursday’s episode featured an elderly woman who was pronounced dead and came back to life.
In the following scene, we see some doctors refer to this miracle as the Lazarus Syndrome. So, what is this phenomenon and do people really come back from the dead?
In scientific terms the Lazarus Syndrome is “described as delayed return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cessation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).” In layman’s terms it means that attempts at reviving someone from death using CPR have failed only to end up working minutes, or hours later. Thus “spontaneous” revival. This thing gets its name from the biblical story about Jesus resurrecting a man named Lazarus from the dead.
In the October 6 “Grey’s Anatomy” episode, “I Ain’t No Miracle Worker,” Dr. Stephanie Edwards is amazed at the medical phenomenon she just witnessed and notes that there have been only 38 cases of Lazarus Syndrome reported–and she is correct. According to the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 38 cases have been recorded in medical literature.
One of the more recent cases occurred in 2013 in Ohio when Anthony Yahle, a 37-year-old man, “coded” for 45 minutes and was pronounced dead, but when his son arrived at the hospital he noticed a heartbeat on the monitor.
15 Most Shocking Shondaland Twists of 2015 (Photos)
McDreamy dies
In what was arguably the biggest Shondaland shocker of the year -- or all time -- Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd was killed off of "Grey's Anatomy" in the dramatic Season 11 episode "How to Save a Life."
ABC
Penny reappears
A classic Shondaland twist in Season 12 of "Grey's Anatomy" brought back the doctor responsible for Derek's death, not only as Callie's new girlfriend, but as Gray Sloan's new surgical resident.
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Dr. Nathan Riggs
When Martin Henderson was brought on as a new series regular for "Grey's Anatomy" Season 12, some fans speculated that he'd be Meredith's new love interest. When he was finally introduced, though, Henderson's Dr. Nathan Riggs was revealed to have a contentious past with Owen, even taking a hit to the face in the midseason finale.
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Rebecca was murdered
Once the Keating Five on "How to Get Away With Murder" began to suspect Rebecca of killing Lila, things were already starting to spiral. It wasn't long before she was tied up in Annalise's basement, and by the end of Season 1, she was dead.
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Frank killed Lila/Bonnie killed Rebecca
Both of Annalise's associates/henchmen were revealed to be killers in 2015, with Frank killing Lila on Sam's orders, and Bonnie killing Rebecca in a twisted attempt to protect Annalise.
When Famke Janssen's Eve Rothlow was introduced in the Season 2 premiere, viewers were led to believe she was an old law school classmate of Annalise's. But by the end of the episode, it was clear that their relationship was more than platonic.
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Annalise has a history with Wes
Annalise's relationship with Wes was always more complicated than professor-student, but it wasn't until the midseason finale that fans got a hint of their backstory, when it's revealed that Eve and Annalise were somehow involved in Wes' mother's death.
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Annalise was shot
Like Season 1 last year, the second season of "How to Get Away With Murder" introduced a major mystery in the final minutes of the premiere. Following the sound of gunfire and shots of Wes fleeing the scene, Annalise is shown to be lying in a pool of her own blood.
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Wes shot Annalise
The mystery of who shot Annalise was wrapped up in the "How to Get Away With Murder" midseason finale, with the reveal that Wes, Annalise's favorite student, was the one who pulled the trigger.
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Stephen returns
The long-lost Gladiator Stephen, played by Henry Ian Cusick, returned to "Scandal" after leaving at the end of Season 1. Olivia Pope's former associate returned in Season 4 to rescue her from her kidnappers.
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Rowan arrested
After multiple seasons of Rowan's reign of terror, the B613 head was finally brought down in the Season 4 finale -- on embezzlement charges of all things.
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"Yes."
After more than four seasons of Fitz and Olivia's on-again, off-again romance going under the radar, it was finally brought public with one word when Olivia is confronted by the media.
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David and Elizabeth
David Rosen seemed to be striking up something with Vice President Susan Ross in the first half of Season 5, but his love life took an unexpected turn when he hooked up with Portia de Rossi's Elizabeth instead.
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Olivia gets an abortion
During Mellie's high-profile filibuster to protect Planned Parenthood funding in the "Scandal" midseason finale, Olivia has her own abortion, a huge surprise to viewers who hadn't previously known she was pregnant.
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Olitz breaks up
Olivia's big abortion wasn't even the biggest twist in "Scandal's" midseason finale. That title goes to the brutal, knock-down, drag-out fight that broke up Olivia and Fitz.
"There is no us! There is no this! There is no Vermont! There is no jam! There's no future. Not anymore."
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TheWrap Rewind 2015: From ”Scandal“ to ”How to Get Away With Murder“ and ”Grey’s Anatomy,“ TheWrap rounds up #TGIT’s biggest surprises of the year
McDreamy dies
In what was arguably the biggest Shondaland shocker of the year -- or all time -- Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd was killed off of "Grey's Anatomy" in the dramatic Season 11 episode "How to Save a Life."
ABC
ABC
