Successful Treatment and Transport of a Prolonged Cardiac Arrest from the Antarctic Continent with Full Neurological Recovery.
Thomas L Powell, Blake W Montana, James J McKeith
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 61-year-old man collapsed at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and was found in ventricular fibrillation. After defibrillation and advanced cardiac life support, clinic staff achieved return of spontaneous circulation. The post-arrest ECG showed an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction; tenecteplase was given before air transport to New Zealand. Twelve hours after arrest, angiography showed complete occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, which was treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and two drug-eluting stents. He survived with full neurological recovery.
What made this case unusual
Full neurological recovery followed a 35-minute cardiac arrest and a 12-hour interval from arrest to hospital arrival, including a 7-hour air transfer from Antarctica.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
In this case, post-arrest ECG identified an anterior STEMI underlying ventricular fibrillation; definitive angiography found complete LAD occlusion.
Why it matters
The case illustrates that resuscitation and transfer to definitive cardiac care can be achieved in an austere, remote setting despite prolonged arrest and transport intervals.