Severe hypothermia associated with prolonged cardiorespiratory arrest and full recovery.

A patient with severe hypothermia was in ventricular fibrillation for more than 1 hour. Conservative core rewarming methods were used with complete success. In dealing with severely hypothermic patients, it is important to continue treatment despite prolonged cardiopulmonary arrest. If conservative core rewarming methods are not successful, then aggressive invasive techniques might be effective.