Treatment of accidental hypothermia with cardiopulmonary bypass: A case report

Abstract

This case report describes the successful treatment of severe accidental hypothermia of a 40-year-old woman. At arrival in the operating theatre her rectal temperature was 23°C, her nasal temperature 21°C and her periferal temperature 14°C. The patient presented with a severe respiratory and metabolic acidosis which was corrected during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). She was rewarmed to obtain a rectal and nasal temperature of 34°C. After 272 minutes, the patient was weaned successfully from CPB. The patient remained at mild hypothermia (34°C) for 24 hours in the intensive care unit (ICU). The chest X-ray showed some signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in spite of normal blood gas values. This improved within a few days and, after five days, she was transferred to the nursing department. On the seventh day, the patient was discharged from hospital without physical or neurological complaints. © 2008 SAGE Publications.