Restoration of Vital Functions in Rats after Clinical Death Caused by Cold Water Submersion

• Published in: Biophysics (Oxford) Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. 1026 - 1031
• Main Authors: Gagarinsky, E. L., Averin, A. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-11-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and Medical Physics; Biophysics; Complex Systems Biophysics; Death; Drownings; Hypothermia; Hypoxia; Laboratory animals; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; heart massage; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; ultra-deep hypothermia
• ISSN: 0006-3509; 1555-6654
• DOI: 10.1134/S0006350921060038

—The permissible time limits have been investigated at which self-restoration of life functions is possible in rats after being in a state of clinical death under ultra-deep hypothermia at temperatures below 10°C. It has been shown that exceeding the 35 min time interval in a state of clinical death led to the death of animals as a result of increasing hypoxia of the body. Partial relief of hypoxia by continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation while the animal was in icy water prolonged the maximum period of clinical death to 60 min. The marginal time limits of clinical death were consistent with the literature data obtained on laboratory animals and correlated with observations on rescued people who drowned in the cold season. It is possible that the marginal indicators for clinical death are similar for different mammalian species. In that case, it can be predicted that resuscitation measures after being in a state of clinical death for more than 70–75 min while drowning in icy water will be impractical.