Citation

Waters DJ, Belz M, Lawse D, Ulstad D. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1994; 57(4): 1018-1019.

Affiliation

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Mason City, IA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8166500

Abstract

Accidental hypothermia associated with near-drowning and cardiac arrest has a high mortality, especially in the adult. We report the resuscitation of a 31-year-old man who suffered extended ice-water submersion, severe hypothermia (23 degrees C), and prolonged (> or = 78 minutes) cardiac asystole. A modified portable cardiopulmonary bypass system and femoral-femoral cannulation in the Emergency Department permitted the rapid institution of core rewarming, oxygenation, and controlled reperfusion, with a successful outcome. Rapid initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass outside the operating room can be an initial treatment option in this unique clinical situation.

Language: en