RT Book, Section
A1 Schiebout, Jessen D.
A2 Reichman, Eric F.
SR Print(0)
ID 1159811024
T1 Hypothermic Patient Management
T2 Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures, 3e
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259861925
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1159811024
RD 2024/04/24
AB The  Centers  for  Disease  Control  and  Prevention  (CDC)  reported  13,419  deaths  from  hypothermia  in  the  United  States  between  2003  and  2013.1  Approximately  67%  of  deaths  were  in  males.  Many  think  these  figures  underestimate  the  number  of  cases  because  standard  thermometers  do  not  measure  low  temperatures.1,2  Hypothermia  is  defined  as  a  core  body  temperature  below  35°C.2  The  normal  physiologic  thermoregulatory  responses  fail  below  this  level  and  lead  to  an  inability  to  generate  enough  heat  to  maintain  bodily  functions.3,4  Accidental  hypothermia  is  further  classified  as  primary  or  secondary.5  Primary  accidental  hypothermia  occurs  when  a  healthy  individual’s  heat  production  is  overcome  by  environmental  factors.6-9  Secondary  accidental  hypothermia  occurs  when  predisposing  factors  lead  to  disruption  of  temperature  homeostasis  and  increase  the  individual’s  susceptibility  to  lesser  environmental  stresses  (e.g.,  drug  intoxication,  endocrine  disorders,  and  trauma).3  Traumatic  injury  is  a  common  example  of  an  acquired  condition  associated  with  hypothermia.5