Accidental Hypothermia

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 367; no. 20; pp. 1930 - 1938
• Main Authors: Brown, Douglas J.A, Brugger, Hermann, Boyd, Jeff, Paal, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Waltham, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 15-11-2012
• Series: Current Concepts
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cold; Consciousness; CPR; Emergency medical care; Extracorporeal Circulation; Fluid Therapy; General aspects; Heat; Hospitals; Humans; Hypothermia; Hypothermia - diagnosis; Hypothermia - etiology; Hypothermia - therapy; Medical prognosis; Medical sciences; Mortality; Oxygenation; Patients; Resuscitation - methods; Rewarming - methods; Temperature; Transportation of Patients; Medicine; Hypothermia
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1114208

Advances in rewarming have improved the prognosis for patients with hypothermia, especially those with cardiac arrest treated with extracorporeal rewarming. This review covers prehospital care, transport, resuscitation fluids, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Accidental hypothermia (i.e., an involuntary drop in core body temperature to <35°C [95°F]) is a condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
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Each year, approximately 1500 patients in the United States have hypothermia noted on their death certificate; however, the incidence of primary and secondary hypothermia and the associated morbidity and mortality remain unknown.
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In a single tertiary care center, 14 different rewarming methods were used to treat 84 cases of accidental hypothermia,
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which reflects the uncertainties about treatment and the potential for complications.
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Certain treatment approaches are available only in specialized centers, and clarification is needed regarding the . . .