[Accidental hypothermia (a case report)].
Severe accidental hypothermia (core body temperature of less than 28 degrees C) is a life threatening state and a medical emergency associated with a high mortality rate. The prognosis depends on underlying diseases, advanced or very early age, the duration prior to treatment, the degree of hemodynamic deterioration, and especially, the methods of treatment, including active external or internal rewarming. We report a 70-year-old male patient with severe accidental hypothermia (core temperature 28 degrees C). The homeless man was found in the street. He died, in spite of all resuscitation efforts and rewarming methods. In this case report reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of accidental hypothermia.
Erkalp
Kerem
K
1st Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Training Hospital, 34040 Bayrampaşa, Istanbul, Turkey. keremerkalp@hotmail.com
Yangin
Zehra
Z
Başaranoğlu
Gökçen
G
Erden
Veysel
V
D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012151:Resuscitation