This is a pretty good depiction of using ice water to stimulate the mammalian diving reflex--a vagal maneuver--for breaking a tachycardia of supraventricular origin. Of course, one should really try NOT to drown one's patients! [rather, stimulate the facial nerves without blocking the airway: icepacks to the face that don't cover the nose and mouth, perhaps]
I had remembered seeing this when it originally aired in 1997-98 and have not found another good depiction of this in the context of teaching ACLS and emergency treatments of tachycardic patients. While it may now be a bit outdated compared to current [2010] recommended algorithms and procedures, it remains useful for its depiction of a "worst case" scenario when all other treatments haven't worked.
Context--Episode 15: a toxic chemical release has them evacuating the ER; John Carter is the only one who is in a position to lead and he steps up! ...moving everyone to the cafeteria. As a result, they do not have all the equipment when and where they need it, and this emergency develops. Nice "outside the box" thinking by Carter!
[BTW: more dated depictions--who tries to immediately intubate someone with unstable tachycardia?! They know they need to fix it, so try it and then if it doesn't work you may be dealing with intubation!... Other oldies: Trendelenberg; carotid sinus massage...]
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