Case report: Resuscitation of a 55-year old physician

A 55-year old man experienced near drowning in a public swimming pool. After BLS performed by the pool attendant first documented heart rhythm by the paramedic was ventricular fibrillation. ALS was started and the patient was defibrillated 6 times and ROSC was achieved after 20 minutes. Triggering event for ventricular fibrillation was NSTEMI. After arrival in hospital acute coronary angiography and PCI of a subtotal proximal LAD stenosis took place. Mild therapeutic hypothermia was conducted for almost 24 hours. Afterwards the patient developed a septic shock due to pneumonia caused by aspiration of chlorinated pool water and, as a second line complication, hemolysis due to fresh water aspiration. After 16 days on Intensive Care Unit the patient could be transferred to the normal ward and was discharged without a cognitive, neurological or any functional deficit.