American journal of surgery
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Three patients with profound hypothermia were treated by rewarming on partial bypass. Two surivived and have normal mental and metabolic functions. The resuscitation of the hypothermic patient should be approached with enthusiasm since the outcome is often much better than expected from initial vital signs and neurologic examination. ⋯ Certainly ventricular fibrillation is a compelling indication. Patients with frozen extremities might also benefit from this method since theoretically tissue salvage would be increased. Finally, those patients who do not respond rapidly to external rewarming may be at less risk of ventricular fibrillation if rewarmed on bypass.