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Successful Resuscitation of Two Immature Infants with Cardiac Arrest During Exchange Transfusion
Author(s) -
WALLGREN GÖRAN,
OKMIAN LUDVIG
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1961.tb08192.x
Subject(s) - medicine , resuscitation , thoracotomy , cardiac resuscitation , cardiac massage , exchange transfusion , anesthesia , complication , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , surgery , pediatrics
Summary Two instances of asystolic cardiac arrest in immature infants during exchange transfusions are reported. In both cases the collapse came as an unexpected complication at the end of the transfusion. When extrathoracic manipulations to restore spontaneous heart action had been unsuccessfully performed for one and two minutes respectively, thoracotomy was performed and cardiac massage instituted. Spontaneous heart action started in one case shortly after manual compressions had been instituted and in the other case after 10 minutes of massage and the administration of calcium and adrenalin. The recovery of the infants was completely uneventful and no signs of CNS damage could be detected at the age of two and three months respectively. Methods to institute cardiac action are discussed and it is stressed that thoracotomy and cardiac massage are comparatively easy procedures not contraindicated by the small size of these infants. The use of continuous ECG control during exchange transfusion is recommended.