Korean J Crit Care Med.  2011 Jun;26(2):110-113. 10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.2.110.

Successful Treatment of Accidental Hypothermia with Injury: A Case Report

• Kyoung KH
• Kim YH
• Hong SK

• KMID: 1977496
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.2.110

Abstract

Accidental hypothermia is an uncommon health issue that can cause fatal problems. Mortality related to hypothermia has been reported to be up to 50%. Prognosis of hypothermia depends on the grade of hypothermia, interval of re-warming from the accident and the re-warming rate. Hypothermic patients with injury show worse prognosis. A 66 year-old man with history of cerebrovascular accident was rescued in the mountains. His Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was 3, core temperature was 25.2degrees C and he had a right lateral malleolar fracture. The second patient was a 45 year-old man whose GCS was 8 and core temperature 17.2degrees C. Blood pressure was unmeasurable with only palpable pulse and showed Osborn J wave on electrocardiography for both patients. Active re-warming was performed with forced warm air, warm saline infusion and bladder irrigation. Patient core temperature raised by 1.5degrees C/hour and 3.3degrees C/hour, respectively. The two patients were discharged without any other sequelae and disability.

Keyword

hypothermia; Osborn J wave; re-warming

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Electrocardiography
Glasgow Coma Scale
Humans
Hypothermia
Prognosis
Stroke
Urinary Bladder