title: Hemofiltration in very severe hypothermia with favorable outcome.
abstract: Hypothermia is a dangerous situation. It is defined by a core temperature of less than 35 degrees C. Aggressive rewarming is used if it is lower than 30 degrees C, comprising extracorporeal therapies. A case of a 63 year old lady is reported whose temperature was 21.8 degrees C, circulation was unstable, respiratory insufficiency prevailed and severe neurological dysfunction. Serum potassium was 2.9 mmol/l and pH corrected for temperature 7.61. The patient was rewarmed by hemofiltration (HF) over 6 hours with substitution of 18 l of a solution containing a concentration of potassium of 5 mmol/l. Though potassium levels declined initially and than slowly normalized in 9 hours there were no arrhythmias documented. The ECG showed prolongation of the PQ-, QRS-, and especially the QT-times. All clinical and neurological sequelae had disappeared after four days. HF thus seems to be a safe method of rewarming in very severe hypothermia.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Maria Hilf Hospital, Franziskushaus, Mönchengladbach, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Brodersen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bolzenius
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Konz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Larbig
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D017694:Rewarming
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium