Successful treatment of profound hypothermia of the newborn.
We report a case of a profoundly hypothermic newborn with a core temperature of 25 degrees C with a successful recovery and normal neurological outcome at 3 and 6 months. This term male infant had been exposed to a temperature of -3 degrees C for approximately 30 min. Slow re-warming, using external modalities was used in addition to volume expansion, heparinization, antibiotics and sedation. There is limited information available concerning the safest and most effective method of re-warming hypothermic newborns. Slow re-warming has been advocated as it replicates the normal physiological process in a neonate, which minimizes a negative therapy impact.


CONCLUSIONS
The most significant decision regarding treatment is the identification of the most appropriate method and speed of re-warming. This report supports recommendations for gradual re-warming of a severely hypothermic newborn. Physiological cardiovascular mechanisms seemed to be intact during slow re-warming; this might be applicable to the treatment of profound hypothermia of the newborn.
Konopova
P
P
Department of Neonatology, Thomayer, University Hospital, Videnska 800, Prague 4, Czech Republic. patricia.konopova@ftn.cz
Janota
J
J
Termerova
J
J
Burianova
I
I
Paulova
M
M
Zach
J
J
D001831:Body Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012151:Resuscitation; D017694:Rewarming / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors