Management of accidental hypothermia: A narrative review

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2019Source: Medicina Intensiva (English Edition)Author(s): M.L. Avellanas Chavala, M. Ayala Gallardo, Í. Soteras Martínez, E. Subirats BayegoAbstractA narrative review is presented on the diagnosis, treatment and management of accidental hypothermia. Although all these processes form a continuum, for descriptive purposes in this manuscript the recommendations are organized into the prehospital and in-hospital settings.At prehospital level, it is advised to: (a) perform high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest patients, regardless of body temperature; (b) establish measures to minimize further cooling; (c) initiate rewarming; (d) prevent rescue collapse and continued cooling (afterdrop); and (e) select the appropriate hospital based on the clinical and hemodynamic situation of the patient.Extracorporeal life support has revolutionized rewarming of the hemodynamically unstable victim or patients suffering cardiac arrest, with survival rates of up to 100%.The new evidences indicate that the management of accidental hypothermia has evolved favorably, with substantial improvement of the final outcomes.ResumenLa presente revisión narrativa se centra en el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y la gestión de la hipotermia accidental. Si bien todos estos procesos son continuos, en el presente manuscrito las recomendaciones se organizan con fines descriptivos en prehospitalarias y hospitalarias.En el ámbito prehospitalar...
Source: Medicina Intensiva - Category: Intensive Care Source Type: research