Accidental hypothermia

Abstract

Accidental hypothermia is an infrequent and under-diagnosed pathology, which causes fatalities every year. This chapter reviews the etiology of accidental hypothermia when it happens secondary to environment conditions and provides an update on the pre-hospital management. Its management needs rapid and accurate core temperature. An esophageal probe may be used in a hospital situation, although in moderate hypothermia victims epitympanic measurement is enough. Initial management involves advance life support and body rewarming and differs in several important aspects from euthermic patients. Vigorous movements can trigger arrhythmias which do not use to respond to medication or defibrillation until the body reaches 30°C. External, passive rewarming is the method of choice for mild hypothermia and a supplementary method for moderate or severe hypothermia. The treatment of severe hypothermia is more complex; active external rewarming is indicated for moderate or severe hypothermia or mild hypothermia that has not responded to passive rewarming. Active internal rewarming is indicated for hemodynamically stable patients suffering moderate or severe hypothermia. Patients with severe hypothermia, cardiac arrest or with a potassium level below 12 mmol/l may require cardiopulmonary bypass treatment. The outcomes depend heavily on clinical resources. © 2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.