J Emerg Med
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Residency programs routinely review cases involving "morbidity and mortality." It would be a valuable experience to similarly review medical malpractice cases and the associated testimony by medical experts. When available, the cases reviewed in residency programs would be those in which faculty members at the same institution had testified. The faculty member in such cases would be intimately familiar with the case and able to share the knowledge necessary to take part in the legal process. This case review process would expose residents to the legal realities of medical practice, provide a forum for peer review of legal testimony by experts, and show residents how to participate in the legal system should the need arise.
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Review Case Reports
Accidental hypothermia with cardiac arrest: recovery following rewarming by cardiopulmonary bypass.
A 22-year-old man eventually had a good neurologic recovery following prolonged coma after extracorporeal rewarming from profound hypothermia (24 degrees C) due to exposure. The patient was in full arrest for 60 minutes prior to institution of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). ⋯ Cardiopulmonary bypass is the current rewarming method of choice for severe hypothermia associated with a persistent nonperfusing cardiac rhythm. CPB provides the most rapid core rewarming with the additional benefit of circulatory support during the period of cardiac instability.