Hypothermia Author: Dmitri Guvakov, MD, PhD; Stuart Weiss, MD, PhD; Albert Cheung, MD
Module updated - 2009-05-21
Author information and module status
Prevention
Screening
Diagnosis
Consultation for Diagnosis
Hospitalization
Non-drug Therapy
Drug Therapy
Patient Education
Consultation for Management
Follow-up
Tables
Figures
References
Glossary
What's New
Patient Information
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Consultation for Management

Obtain consultation for patients with moderate and severe hypothermia according to the initial evaluation and clinical necessity. C

  • Discuss the options of management strategies with intensivists and emergency physicians who often have had extensive training or more experience in such emergencies.
  • Obtain urgent consultation to assist in choosing and implementing active rewarming strategies:
    • Consult a cardiac or vascular surgeon and perfusionist to establish extracorporeal rewarming of blood with the partial bypass (see Non-drug Therapy).
    • Consult a gastroenterologist when considering the strategy of gastric lavage using an esophageal tube.
    • Consult a nephrologist if the patient has profound renal dysfunction that may require dialysis, or if dialysis is being considered for emergent active rewarming.
  • Consult with surgery for help in managing local injuries such as frostnip, trench (immersion) foot, and frostbite.
Background

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 Zhou Martini, PhD, editorial consultant, has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.
Steven E. Weinberger, MD, FACP, Acting Editor, PIER, has stock holdings in Glaxosmithkline and Abbott.

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