The successful resuscitation of a hypothermic multitrauma patient

Accidental hypothermia due to exposure is an infrequent cause of circulatory arrest. A premature diagnosis of clinical death must be avoided in these patients and vigorous attempts at active rewarming are indicated. Extracorporeal circulation in the form of partial cardiopulmonary bypass has been reported as an effective means of rapid, even core rewarming. We wish to report a recent case at Ruby Memorial Hospital in which extracorporeal circulation was used successfully in resuscitating a profoundly hypothermic multi-trauma victim.