Abstract
Three post-cardiac arrest survivors exhibited marked hemoconcentration during therapeutic hypothermia. Case 1: A 31-year-old man suffered from cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) due to Brugada syndrome. When the body temperature was reduced to 33.8°C from 36.9°C, the blood hemoglobin level increased from 16.3 g/dl to 20.7 g/dl. Case 2: An 86-year-old man suffered from CPA due to the airway obstruction after surgery for gum cancer. When the body temperature was reduced to 30.7°Cfrom 37.3°C , the blood hemoglobin level increased to 12.8 g/dl from 10.3 g/dl. In both cases, the blood hemoglobin level returned to the baseline after rewarming. Case 3: A 3-month-old girl suffered from CPA at home. On admission, her body temperature was 33.6°C. As the body was rewarmed, the blood hemoglobin level decreased to 9.8 g/dl from 12.2 g/dl. Therapeutic hypothermia prevents or mitigates neurologic injury. However, it also has potential adverse effects. Hypovolemia is one of the most important adverse effects, due to cold diuresis and extravasation. We should bear in mind the possible risk of increase in blood viscosity.
