Excellent Outcome With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation After Accidental Profound Hypothermia (13.8°C) and Drowning.

Abstract

To report outcome and intensive care strategy in a 7-year-old girl with accidental profound hypothermia and drowning. Patient records and interviews with search-and-rescue personnel. Case report. The girl was rescued after an estimated submersion time of at least 83 minutes in icy sea water. She presented with cardiac arrest, ice in her upper airways, a first-documented nasopharyngeal temperature of 13.8°C, and a serum potassium of 11.3 mmol/L. The patient was slowly rewarmed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and made an exceptional recovery after intensive care and a long rehabilitation time. Excellent outcome is possible in children with body temperature and serum potassium reaching the far limits of previously reported human survival and prolonged submersion time.