Futility

Patients with a potassium level over 12 mmol/L or severe traumatic injuries will not benefit from bypass. Similarly, patients with pre-existing cardiopulmonary, renal or neurological disorders require careful selection as they have a poorer prognosis [4,5].

In primary hypothermic cardiac arrest, death should not be confirmed until:

• The patient has been re-warmed

Or

• Other unsurvivable injuries have been identified

Or

• Re-warming has failed despite all available measures.