Successful CPR in a severely hypothermic patient using continuous thoracostomy lavage

Ann Emerg Med. 1990 Nov;19(11):1335-7. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)82300-5.

Abstract

Severe hypothermia with cardiopulmonary arrest often requires prolonged resuscitation while rewarming procedures are implemented. A 63-year-old male in cardiopulmonary arrest with a core body temperature of 23.7 C was resuscitated successfully after core rewarming by means of a two-chest-tube continuous thoracostomy lavage procedure. This lavage procedure resulted in effective and rapid rewarming after other conventional rewarming methods had failed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Body Temperature
  • Heart Arrest / etiology*
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Hot Temperature / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia / complications
  • Hypothermia / physiopathology
  • Hypothermia / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Resuscitation / methods*
  • Sodium Chloride / therapeutic use
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / methods*
  • Thoracostomy*

Substances

  • Sodium Chloride