Unusual complications after rewarming for deep accidental hypothermia.
Deep accidental hypothermia is an uncommon pathology. Successful management has been reported in isolated cases, but the majority of patients die from complications after rewarming. We report on a patient with deep accidental hypothermia after a mountaineering accident. He was successfully rewarmed with cardiopulmonary bypass, but presented several complications which led to death. These complications included the patient developing acute peritonitis and necrotizing fasciitis, which represent, to our knowledge, complications that have never been associated with deep accidental hypothermia before.
Vionnet
M
M
Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. vionnetm@hopcantfr.ch
Mueller
X
X
von Segesser
L K
LK
D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000293:injuries; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology; D017694:Rewarming; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology