Citation

Rudolph SS, Barnung S. ISRN Cardiol. 2011; 2011: 895625.

Affiliation

Department of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Hindawi Publishing)

DOI

10.5402/2011/895625

PMID

22347661

PMCID

PMC3262507

Abstract

The current guidelines for resucitation following hypothermia and submersion with cardiac arrest state that rewarming should be continued until a core temperature of 32-34°C is achieved, after which death can be declared if no return of spontaneous circulation has occurred. As no randomized, controlled trials exist, these treatment guidelines are mostly based on a pragmatic approach. Wheater to start or stop resuscitation is notoriusly difficult. Submersion time, water temperature, and prompt resuscitation seem to be crucial factors for outcome. We report a case of successful resuscitation after the use of mechanical chest compressions and extracorporeal circulation in a patient with cardiac arrest due to submersion and accompanying mild hypothermia with a core temperature of 32,2°C caused by submersion.

Language: en