TREATMENT OF HYPOTHERMIC CIRCULATORY ARREST WITH THORACOTOMY AND PLEURAL LAVAGE

We describe a successful case of severe hypothermia due to coldwater i mmersion. 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 co re temperature (25 degrees C), The patient recovered primarily well wi thout any postoperative complications. The follow-up of two years show s good state of physical health but some neuropsychological defects di sturbing normal progress in school work.