Avellanas Chavala ML, Ayala Gallardo M, Soteras Martínez Í, Subirats Bayego E. Management of accidental hypothermia: A narrative review.
Med Intensiva 2019;
43:556-568. [PMID:
30683520 DOI:
10.1016/j.medin.2018.11.008]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A 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.
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