JACC: Case Reports (Jan 2021)
Resolution of Strain Abnormalities During Extracorporeal Rewarming From Accidental Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Following Avalanche Burial
Abstract
A hypothermic avalanche victim underwent, during extracorporeal warming from asystolic arrest, 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. At 33°C core temperature, left ventricular ejection fraction had recovered, whereas myocardial strain still demonstrated significant dysfunction until 36°C. Deformation analysis seems more sensitive than global assessment during myocardial recovery from hypothermic cardiac arrest. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)