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Hypothermia > Drug Therapy Author: Dmitri Guvakov, MD, PhD; Stuart Weiss, MD, PhD; Albert Cheung, MD
Module updated - 2011-03-28
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Rationale:

  • Drug metabolism is reduced during hypothermia.
  • Repeated administration of drugs to severely hypothermic patients can result in toxic levels.

Evidence:

  • Hypothermia significantly decreases the response to cardiovascular drugs, cardiac pacing, and defibrillation (105; 170).

Comments:

  • Diminished response to cardioactive drugs is related to the severity of hypothermia.
  • The need for hemodynamic support because of cardiac depression and hypotension may resolve with rewarming and correction of electrolyte and metabolic disturbances.
  • Use of vasoactive infusions should be reserved for patients having refractory hypotension that persists after rewarming.
FAQs
Albert Cheung, MD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Dmitri Guvakov, MD, PhD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Stuart Weiss, MD, PhD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Wenjun Martini, PhD, editorial consultant, has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.
Deborah Korenstein, MD, FACP, Co-Editor, PIER, has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Richard B. Lynn, MD, FACP, Co-Editor, PIER, has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.

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