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Hypothermic cardiac arrest — DipIMC MCQ

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HardResuscitationHypothermic cardiac arrestDipIMC

A 44-year-old hillwalker is found buried in snow after 3 hours. He is unconscious, core temperature 26°C, no signs of life after a 60-second pulse check, and the nearest district hospital is 20 minutes away while an extracorporeal rewarming centre is 65 minutes away. What is the most appropriate transport decision?

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Correct answer: A — Transport with ongoing CPR to an extracorporeal rewarming centre if feasible

Severe accidental hypothermic arrest may be survivable and should be referred for extracorporeal rewarming when feasible. Drug metabolism is impaired at low temperatures, so standard repeated dosing is modified according to guidance. Scene rewarming is not a substitute for definitive rewarming when arrest has occurred.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Special circumstances 2025; JRCALC Guidelines