title: The Role of Hypothermia Coordinator: A Case of Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Treated with ECMO.
abstract: We present a description of emergency medical rescue procedures in a patient suffering from severe hypothermia who was found in the Babia Gora mountain range (Poland). After diagnosing the symptoms of II/III stage hypothermia according to the Swiss Staging System, the Mountain Rescue Service notified the coordinator from the Severe Accidental Hypothermia Center (CLHG) Coordinator in Krakow and then kept in constant touch with him. In accordance with the protocol for managing such situations, the coordinator started the procedure for patients in severe hypothermia with the option of extracorporeal warming and secured access to a device for continuous mechanical chest compression. After reaching the hospital, extracorporeal warming with ECMO support in the arteriovenuous configuration was started. The total duration of circulatory arrest was 150 minutes. The rescue procedures were supervised by the coordinator, who was on 24-hour duty and was reached by means of an alarm phone. The task of the coordinator is to consult the management of hypothermia cases, use his knowledge and experience to help in the diagnosis and treatment. and if the need arises refer the patient for ECMO at CLHG. Good coordination, planning, predicting possible problems, and acting in accordance with the agreed procedures in the scheme, make it possible to shorten the time of reaching the destination hospital and implement effective treatment.
authors: 1 Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, John Paul II Hospital, Medical College of Jagiellonian University , Cracow, Poland .|2 Polish Medical Air Rescue , Warsaw, Poland .
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Darocha
authors: 3 Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Pulmonary Hospital , and Tatra Mountain Rescue Service, Zakopane, Poland .
authors: Sylweriusz
authors: S
authors: Kosinski
authors: 4 Polish Mountain Rescue , Beskidy Group, Szczyrk, Poland .
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Moskwa
authors: 1 Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, John Paul II Hospital, Medical College of Jagiellonian University , Cracow, Poland .
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Jarosz
authors: 5 Department of Admission and Emergency, John Paul II Hospital, Medical College of Jagiellonian University , Cracow, Poland .
authors: Dorota
authors: D
authors: Sobczyk
authors: 2 Polish Medical Air Rescue , Warsaw, Poland .|6 Department of Emergency Medical Services, Medical University of Warsaw , Warsaw, Poland .
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Galazkowski
authors: 7 Dispatch Center , Emergency Services Cracow, Cracow, Poland .
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Slowik
authors: 1 Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, John Paul II Hospital, Medical College of Jagiellonian University , Cracow, Poland .
authors: Rafal
authors: R
authors: Drwila
mesh_terms: D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000379:methods; D017694:Rewarming / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: cardiopulmonary resuscitation; hypothermia; mountaineering; out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; rewarming