Treatment of hypothermic circulatory arrest with thoracotomy and pleural lavage

We describe a successful case of severe hypothermia due to coldwater immersion. An eight-year-old boy was saved from cold water (4 degrees C) after forty minutes. Open rewarming and resuscitation was performed by thoracotomy and pleural lavage for cardiac arrest due to the low core temperature (25 degrees C). The patient recovered primarily well without any postoperative complications. The follow-up of two years shows good state of physical health but some neuropsychological defects disturbing normal progress in school work.