Successful resuscitation after drowning with severe hypernatraemia and prolonged time to return of spontaneous circulation.

We describe the successful resuscitation of a 23-year-old previously healthy man who had drowned. After prolonged submersion, hypothermia, severe hypernatraemia, a prolonged time to return of spontaneous circulation was possible using a combination of extracorporal life support and early continuous veno-venous haemofiltration. This combination of clinical circumstances is rarely associated with positive outcomes, but this case demonstrates the utility of extracorporeal life support and haemofiltration in patients drowned in saltwater.