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Frequently Asked Questions
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| Prevention |
| Why is alcohol a significant risk factor for hypothermia? |
| Is hypothermia confined to colder climates? |
| What management strategies can be used to decrease the risk of hypothermia in hospitalized patients? |
| Diagnosis |
| Why is a careful and gentle approach used during the initial period of diagnosis and treatment of hypothermia? |
| Is cognitive dysfunction of a hypothermic patient at the time of presentation considered a poor prognostic sign and predictor of permanent cognitive impairment? |
| Does absence of a neurologic response, respirations, and detectable pulses in a severely hypothermic patient permit the diagnosis of death? |
| Consultation for Diagnosis |
| Which specialists should be consulted to obtain correct diagnosis? |
| Which physicians often have had previous experience and training in diagnostic of moderate and severe hypothermia? |
| Hospitalization |
| Should every patient diagnosed with hypothermia be hospitalized? |
| What are the criteria for the hospitalization of a hypothermic patient? |
| What are the factors to be considered for admission of a hypothermic patient to the intensive care unit? |
| Non-drug Therapy |
| What type of rewarming strategies should be considered for each level of severity of hypothermia? |
| What are the contraindications to employing extracorporeal circulatory management for severe hypothermia? |
| What are the possible complications of rough handling of a hypothermic patient? |
| Drug Therapy |
| Why is drug management in the hypothermic patient different from the normothermic patient? |
| Can antiarrhythmic drugs be used in hypothermic patients? |
| Which antiarrhythmic agents are more effective in hypothermic patients? |
| Patient Education |
| What are the recommendations for outdoor enthusiasts to prevent accidental hypothermia? |
| How does one prevent accidental hypothermia? |
| Where does one find information about hypothermia? |
| What should staff of care facilities for the elderly and disabled be taught about the prevention and recognition of hypothermia? |
| Consultation for Management |
| Which consultants can assist in developing appropriate rewarming strategies for severely hypothermic patients? |
| Which personnel should be contacted to assist in implementation of rewarming strategies? |
| Which consultants should be called before discharging a patient? |
| Follow-up |
| What is the pathophysiology of frostbite? |
| What is the difference between frostnip, frostbite, and trench foot? |
| What sequelae of hypothermia may persist as long-term deficits? |
Hypothermia
