Defibrillation and thrombolysis following a myocardial infarct in Antarctica.

This report describes the cardiac resuscitation and air evacuation of a 53-yr-old male dentist who sustained an inferior myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest in Antarctica. Following defibrillation and thrombolysis, a ski-equipped LC-130 airlifted this critical patient 9 h north to New Zealand for angioplasty. This case heralds the rapidly evolving ability to extend state-of-the-art health care to previously inaccessible areas.