[Accidental hypothermia with cardiorespiratory arrest. Case report]

A case of an effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a 71-year-old woman following drowning in a cold water and cardiopulmonary arrest for at least 20 minutes is presented. Intubation, ventilation with 100% oxygen, external cardiac massage and administration of adrenaline, 1 mg intravenously, were implemented. Ventricular fibrillation, which occurred after adrenaline therapy, responded to electrical defibrillation with 200 J and converted into a sinus rhythm. Metabolic acidosis was corrected by intravenous sodium bicarbonate administration. The patient became gradually conscious, and she was weaned from mechanical respiration after 12 hours. Subsequently, the patient was extubated. There were no neurological deficits.