Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a near-drowned child with a combination of epinephrine and vasopressin.
OBJECTIVE
To report a cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempt in a 20-month-old child employing a combination of vasopressin and epinephrine.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation.


METHODS
A 20-month-old child found in cardiac arrest after submersion.


RESULTS
Dispatcher-assisted basic life support was initiated immediately after pulling the child out of the water. The emergency medical service crew arrived approximately 6 mins later and found a hypothermic, cyanotic child in cardiocirculatory arrest. The first electrocardiogram showed sinus bradycardia. After intubation and administration of epinephrine and atropine with no effect, an intravenous bolus of 0.2 mg of epinephrine and 10 IU of vasopressin resulted in restoration of spontaneous circulation. The boy was flown to a hospital and was discharged 23 days later to a rehabilitation facility. He returned home 6 months after the accident, where further rehabilitation efforts are pending.


CONCLUSIONS
Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early and aggressive advanced life support, rewarming, and the combination of intravenous epinephrine and vasopressin were associated with sustained return of spontaneous circulation following hypothermic submersion-associated cardiac arrest.
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Hannes G
HG
Lienhart
Wolfgang
W
John
Volker
V
Wenzel
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000628:therapy; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015701:Near Drowning / Q000628:therapy*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014667:Vasopressins; D004837:Epinephrine