A 38-year-old man is admitted to ICU following submersion in cold water for approximately 10 minutes. He is in cardiac arrest with a core temperature ...

Question

A 38-year-old man is admitted to ICU following submersion in cold water for approximately 10 minutes. He is in cardiac arrest with a core temperature of 26°C. After 30 minutes of CPR with warming measures, there is still no ROSC. What principle guides the decision to continue or stop resuscitation?

Accepted Answer

Continue resuscitation until the patient is warm (core temperature >35°C) or until it is clear that warming is not possible - 'nobody is dead until warm and dead'

Answer

Stop resuscitation after 30 minutes as survival is impossible

Answer

Stop if no ROSC after 3 shocks

Answer

Only continue if the patient is under 30 years old

Answer

Switch to comfort care after 20 minutes

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest