Medical staff at the University Clinical Hospital in Poznan have successfully saved a patient suffering from extreme hypothermia, with a body temperature of just 22 degrees Celsius upon admission.
Critical Admission and Stabilization
Treatment commenced on May 14 after a patient arrived at the University Clinical Hospital’s emergency department in a state of profound hypothermia. The patient’s body temperature was measured at 22 degrees Celsius, which subsequently rose to 28 degrees following active warming measures.
Due to the patient suffering cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation, physicians performed a defibrillation procedure that successfully restored spontaneous heart rhythm.
Pioneering Medical Intervention
This event marks the first instance in the history of the Poznan facility where doctors successfully utilized the VA ECMO method for Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) on a patient in such a state of deep hypothermia.
Under the leadership of Dr. Mateusz Puślecki, the cardiac surgery team removed the ECMO cannula on the second day of treatment. The patient was extubated on the third day and reportedly shows no signs of neurological deficit.
Human Expertise Over Equipment
Hospital officials emphasized that while advanced technology played a vital role, the patient’s survival was ultimately due to the expertise and determination of the medical team. They noted that such cases force medical professionals to reconsider the boundaries of what is considered possible, transforming “impossible” into a success story.