In Hanoi, doctors successfully revived a 30-year-old woman who was critically injured by lightning using hypothermia. The woman had been struck by lightning while cutting vegetables in a field and was admitted to the emergency room in a deep coma and cardiopulmonary arrest. Despite receiving chest compressions and artificial respiration, her prognosis remained critical.
After consulting with doctors at the Agricultural General Hospital, the Intensive Care Department applied hypothermia to control the woman’s body temperature. This technique, along with other measures such as mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, dialysis, and rehydration, helped correct the disorders caused by circulatory arrest. After six days of treatment, the patient showed positive signs of recovery, gradually awakening and returning to normal body functions.
Hypothermia is a method that involves using cooling techniques to actively control the patient’s body temperature within 24-48 hours after respiratory arrest. This method has been shown to improve mortality and complication rates in patients with respiratory arrest and other diseases. The effectiveness of hypothermia treatment decreases if it is not administered within six hours of the incident.
To avoid being struck by lightning during thunderstorms, doctors recommend avoiding going out during storms and staying away from open areas, large trees, and high voltage electric poles. Seeking shelter from the rain under the eaves of a house or standing in large groups close together should also be avoided. If someone is struck by lightning, they should seek immediate first aid and be taken to the nearest medical facility for emergency treatment to prevent life-threatening complications.
This successful revival highlights how hypothermia can be an effective tool for treating patients with respiratory arrest or other conditions that cause circulatory arrest.
