Original Articles

Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest in the Homeless: What Can We Do?

Address correspondence to: Fabrizio Sansone, MD, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital, Largo Turati 62, 10127, Turin, Italy. E-mail: fabrisans@katamail.com

Received: 24 June 2011
Accepted: 2 August 2011

Abstract

Accidental deep hypothermia with body temperature <28°C induces high mortality rates for neurological and cardiac complications. Although several reports described successful treatment of hypothermic arrest by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the field of warming in the homeless is almost completely unquestioned although the malnutrition and the co-morbidities are usually believed as relevant risk factors for poor outcome. This article describes the experience of successful warming by ECMO in two homeless victims of unwitnessed cardiac arrest, who survived without neurological or cardiac complications. In conclusion, this is an initial experience and further research is required, although our results are appreciable in this high risk subset of population.