Successful defibrillation in profound hypothermia (core body temperature 25.6 degrees C).
We report a case of successful defibrillation in a severely hypothermic patient with a core body temperature of 25.6 degrees C as measured oesophageally. Ventricular fibrillation is a recognised life threatening arrhythmia in severely hypothermic patients. The traditional wisdom is that this arrhythmia is refractory to defibrillation at temperatures below 28 degrees C.
Thomas
R
R
Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Hospital Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 2AA, UK.
Cahill
C J
CJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D004554:Electric Countershock; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors