Interest of face mask--CPAP in one case of severe accidental hypothermia.
We report one case of severe accidental hypothermia; rectal temperature was 25 degrees C. Hypoxemia unmodified by 100 O2 inhalation in an ordinary face-mask was easily corrected using a face-mask CPAP; a ventilation-perfusion mismatching could be implicated in the cold induced hypoxemia. Active rewarming (1.5 degrees C/h) was pursued from 25 to 37 degrees C, using non aggressive methods: warming blankets and a Bennett heated humidifier inserted in the CPAP system. Even in severe hypothermia successful results may be obtained without resort to sophisticated methods.
Canivet
J L
JL
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Liège, Belgium.
Larbuisson
R
R
Lamy
M
M
D000140:Acidosis, Lactic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods*