Cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation for accidental hypothermia: Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1994; 58/3: 895–898

Abstract

Many victims of accidental hypothermia have been suc­ cessfully resuscitated with cardiopulmonary bypass, but questions remain regarding treatment indications and efficacy. To assess the role of cardiopulmonary bypass in resuscitation from hypothermia, a collective literature review was performed. Data on 68 hypothermic patients resuscitated with cardiopulmonary bypass were ana­ lyzed. Impairment from alcohol, drug abuse, or mental illness was the most common predisposing factor for accidental hypothermia. Mean initial core temperature was 21°C. Sixty-one patients (90%) were in cardiac arrest. Femoral-femoral bypass was used in 72% of patients. Overall survival was 60%. Eighty percent of survivors returned to their previous level of function. Sixty-seven percent of nonsurvivors died because of inability to establish a cardiac rhythm or wean from bypass. Patient age, type of cardiopulmonary bypass (femoral-femoral or atrial-aortic), and initial core temperature were not sig­ nificant prognostic indicators. There were no survivors among the 6 patients with a core temperature less than