If you don't remember your password, you can reset it by entering your email address and clicking the Reset Password button. You will then receive an email that contains a secure link for resetting your password
If the address matches a valid account an email will be sent to __email__ with instructions for resetting your password
Corresponding author: Tomasz Darocha, MD, PhD, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Ul. Medyków 14, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Both the temperature at which defibrillation can be effectively used and how often it should be repeated in severe accidental hypothermia have not been definitely established. Current recommendations are based mainly on expert opinion and suggest withholding defibrillation after 3 shocks when the core temperature is below 30°C (86°F). However, growing evidence supports the effectiveness of defibrillation in patients with a core temperature below 30°C (86°F). We present a case of successful defibrillation of a 54-y-old, severely hypothermic patient with a core temperature of 18.2°C (64.8°F). The shock was delivered automatically by an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator shortly after the implementation of extracorporeal rewarming. The patient survived and was discharged from the hospital neurologically intact. It might be reasonable to consider defibrillation attempts in severely hypothermic patients despite current guidelines to the contrary. Increasing coronary perfusion using extracorporeal circulation may result in a better response to defibrillation.
Both the temperature at which defibrillation can be effectively used and how often it should be repeated in a severely hypothermic patient have not been definitely established. If ventricular fibrillation (VF) persists after 3 shocks, it is recommended to delay further attempts until the core temperature (Tc) rises to or above 30°C (86°F).
Although the value of deferring subsequent defibrillations until a target temperature is achieved is uncertain, it may be reasonable to perform further defibrillation attempts according to the standard basic life support algorithm concurrent with rewarming strategies.
Part 12: cardiac arrest in special situations: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
According to the Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines, if a single shock at a temperature below 30°C (86°F) is unsuccessful, further shocks after rewarming at least 1 to 2°C may be justified.
Surprisingly, all of these recommendations are based on animal studies and several human case reports, with no supporting high-quality study.
We present a case of successful defibrillation of a patient with a Tc of 18.2°C (64.8°F). The shock was delivered automatically by an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
Case Presentation
A 54-y-old man was found apparently lifeless in the forest on a winter morning. The average outside temperature that day was −7°C (19°F). His exposure time and the reason he was alone in the woods were not known. An ambulance was called to the scene. At 0915, paramedics found the patient unresponsive with no signs of life. Measurement of Tc was unavailable. Hypothermia was diagnosed based on a history of exposure to cold and clinical examination in which the trunk felt very cold. Cardiac arrest was diagnosed based on clinical examination and cardiac monitoring, which showed a nonshockable rhythm. End-tidal CO2 monitoring was unavailable.
At 0918, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started. The patient was intubated and ventilated with 100% FIO2. At 0949 and 1006, 2 manual monophasic external defibrillations of 200 J and 360 J were delivered, respectively. The patient was insulated in a rescue bag. Medical personnel were unaware that 5 mo earlier, the patient had had an ICD implanted (St Judes Ellipse VR, Mode VVI 50 beats·min-1, VT zone: 184 beats·min-1, VF zone: 230 beats·min-1) to prevent sudden cardiac death.
A helicopter was called. Once on scene, the helicopter emergency medical services team decided to transport the patient with ongoing mechanical chest compressions to the nearest center capable of extracorporeal rewarming. On arrival at the John Paul II hospital in Krakow (1134), the patient was asystolic and the Tc was 17.8°C (64°F) by esophageal probe. At 1157, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation rewarming was instituted. Arterial blood gas measurements less than 5 min after starting extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were pH of 7.14, arterial partial pressure of oxygen of 304 mm Hg, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 42 mm Hg, and base excess of −14.5 mm Hg. Serum potassium was 3.5 mmol·L-1. At 1207, at a Tc of 18.2°C (64.8°F), a 15 J shock delivered by an ICD restored sinus rhythm with subsequent effective VVI stimulation at 50 beats·min-1 (Figure 1). The patient survived and was discharged from the hospital neurologically intact. Appropriate battery voltage and normal circuitry function were found in the ICD in the postevent evaluation.
Figure 1Appropriate implanted cardioverter-defibrillator shock therapy at 15 J followed by a temporarily nonsinus rhythm and then effective VVI pacing at 50 beats·min-1 (1207).
Analysis of the ICD recordings revealed 18 tachyarrhythmic events on the day the patient was found. We present detailed information including the shock delivered and the duration and outcome of the event in Table 1.
Table 1Compiled report of intracardiac electrogram and surface electrocardiograms and core temperature
Time
0918
IEGM record (11/28); Episode: nonsustained (243 min-1/246 ms) zone nearest detection VF, duration 12 s; record description: patient’s heart rhythm 60–75 beats·min-1, artifacts related to external chest compressions, therapy not delivered
0920
ECG: asystole—VVI pacing 50 beats·min-1, failure to capture
0949
ECG: VF—external defibrillation 200 J followed by VVI stimulation 50 beats·min-1 and short-lived ROSC (NIBP 50/20 mm Hg), refibrillation
0954
ECG—asystole—VVI pacing 50 beats·min-1, failure to capture
0959
ECG: VF seen on the external monitor
1004
IEGM record (12/28); Episode: nonsustained (240 min-1/250 ms) zone nearest detection VF,
IEGM record (17/28); Episode: VF (230 min/260 ms), duration 22 s, detection criteria 230 min-1, 1xATP during charging “on,” defibrillation 15 J. Record description: VF—appropriate ICD shock therapy 15 J, ATP 1x during charging “on” patient’s heart rhythm 8 QRSs, refibrillation
1203
IEGM record (18/28); Episode: VF (240 min-1/250 ms), duration 34 s, detection criteria 230 min-1, 1x ATP during charging “on,” defibrillation 15 J, aborted defibrillation 30 J. Record description: VF—appropriate ICD shock therapy 15 J, ATP 1x during charging “on” patient’s heart rhythm 7 QRSs, VF/artifacts redetected—30 J aborted
1204
IEGM record (19/28); Episode: VF (255 min-1/235 ms), duration 16 s, detection criteria 230 min-1, defibrillation 15 J. Record description: VF—appropriate ICD shock therapy 15 J, patient’s heart rhythm 7 QRSs, next VF/artifacts probably related to external chest compressions
1204
IEGM record (20/28); Episode: VF (230 min-1/260 ms), duration 36 s, detection criteria 230 min-1, 1xATP during charging “on,” defibrillation 15 J. Record description: VF—appropriate ICD shock therapy 15 J, ATP 1x during charging “on” patient’s heart rhythm 2 QRSs, artifacts probably related to external chest compressions
1205
IEGM record (21/28); Episode: nonsustained (256 min-1/234 ms) zone nearest detection VF, duration 8 s. Record description: shock 15J, artefacts
1205
IEGM unavailable (22/28)—nonsustained (270 min-1/222 ms) zone nearest detection VF, duration 4 s, no therapy delivered
1205
IEGM record (23/28); Episode: VF (230 min-1/260 ms), duration 18 s, detection criteria 230 min-1, 1x ATP during charging “on,” aborted defibrillation 15 J. Record description: VF ATP 1x during charging, artifacts redetected, probably related to external chest compressions
1205
IEGM record (24/28); Episode: nonsustained (229 min-1/261 ms) zone nearest detection VF, duration 14 s, no therapy delivered. Record description, shock 15 J, artifacts probably related to external chest compressions
1206
IEGM unavailable (25/28)—nonsustained (265 min-1/226 ms) zone nearest detection VF, duration 18 s, no therapy delivered
1206
IEGM unavailable (26/28)—nonsustained (256 min-1/234 ms) zone nearest detection VF, duration 8 s, no therapy delivered
1206
IEGM record (27/28): Episode: nonsustained ( 229 min-1/261 ms) zone nearest detection VF, duration 24 s, no therapy delivered. Record description: artifacts probably related to external chest compressions
1207
Tc 18.2°C
1207
IEGM record (28/28): Episode: VF (260 min-1/230 ms), duration 28 s, detection criteria 230 min-1, defibrillation 15 J. Record description: VF—appropriate ICD shock therapy 15 J followed by effective VVI pacing 50 beats·min-1, Figure 1
The patient gave written informed consent to publication of this case. The most important message is that successful defibrillation in severe hypothermia is possible at a Tc as low as 18.2°C (64.8°F). This case indicates the potential value of administering shocks during rewarming, even if the Tc is lower than 30°C (86°F).
There is a lack of experimental and clinical data on the effects of hypothermia on resuscitation and, in particular, on defibrillation. The extent to which hypothermia contributes to arrhythmogenesis and the mechanisms involved are not well defined. VF should be treated immediately with defibrillation. In hypothermia, if initial attempts at defibrillation are unsuccessful, further attempts and antiarrhythmic medications should be withheld until the patient is warmed to above 30°C (86°F).
Part 12: cardiac arrest in special situations: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
Part 12: cardiac arrest in special situations: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
The success rate of defibrillation attempts may be higher than widely assumed. A Tc above 24°C (75.2°F) may be associated with successful defibrillation.
At least one-third of successful defibrillations at a Tc lower than 30°C (86°F) were in patients who underwent rewarming before shocks restored spontaneous circulation.
It is unclear whether the likelihood of successful defibrillation is increased by the increase in Tc, by the increase in myocardial perfusion, or by the direct rewarming of the myocardium with warmer blood in the coronary arteries.
Successful defibrillation at a Tc below 28°C (82.4°F) has been reported in patients with extracorporeal circulatory support and optimized myocardial perfusion.
In a study of 23 severely hypothermic patients, none of the patients with witnessed VF arrest were defibrillated before extracorporeal rewarming was started.
In the present case, the Tc increased only minimally, but perfusion increased significantly before the successful shock was delivered. This suggests that the key to successful defibrillation in severely hypothermic patients is the optimization of myocardial perfusion. We believe that the current case is the first reported occurrence of successful ICD defibrillation in hypothermic cardiac arrest. The device can store information about events, including electrograms. Electrograms are electrocardiographic records obtained from inside the heart. The capability to store electrograms offers the possibility to characterize arrhythmias associated with hypothermic cardiac arrest and the effectiveness of defibrillation attempts by the ICD. The first electrogram recorded during the event was at a heart rate of 60 to 75 beats∙min-1 and contained artifacts related to external chest compressions (Table 1). The ICD recognized a potentially perfusing rhythm and did not deliver a shock. There is a risk of misdiagnosis of a perfusing rhythm as a nonperfusing one. If a cardiac monitor shows an organized rhythm without detectible pulses, it may be pulseless electrical activity or a perfusing rhythm with very weak pulses.
Severe hypothermia is associated with marked depression of critical body functions, which may make the victim appear clinically dead during the initial assessment. The traditional method of checking for a faint pulse with fingers placed over an artery is limited by cold, tissue stiffness, and impaired sensitivity of rescuer’s fingers.
Starting CPR in a hypothermic patient with an organized cardiac rhythm carries a risk of causing VF that would convert a perfusing rhythm into a nonperfusing one.
If ETCO2 monitoring is available, it should be used not only as an indicator of correct positioning of the endotracheal tube but also as a sign of effective circulation.
Should capnography be used as a guide for choosing a ventilation strategy in circulatory shock caused by severe hypothermia? Observational case-series study.
Successful defibrillation in severe hypothermia is possible at a Tc as low as 18.2°C (64.8°F) in patients with optimized perfusion. All available measures should be taken to confirm cardiac arrest before initiation of CPR in hypothermic patients.
Author Contributions: Study concept and design (SK, TD, AD, MP, KSG); obtaining funding (N/A); acquisition of data (SK, TD, AD, KSG); analysis of the data (SK, TD, AD, KSG); drafting the manuscript (SK, TD, AD, MP, PP); critical revision of manuscript (MP, RD, KSG); approval of final manuscript (SK, TD, AD, MP, KSG, PP, RD).
Financial/Material Support: None.
Disclosures: None.
References
Truhlář A.
Deakin C.D.
Soar J.
Khalifa G.E.A.
Alfonzo A.
Bierens J.J.L.M.
et al.
European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015. Section 4. Cardiac arrest in special circumstances.
Part 12: cardiac arrest in special situations: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
Should capnography be used as a guide for choosing a ventilation strategy in circulatory shock caused by severe hypothermia? Observational case-series study.
30014-4&id=gr1.jpg){kind=link}