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Hypothermia

Scott T Henderson, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Accidental hypothermia is the result of an unanticipated environmental exposure to cold temperatures. It is manifested as a core temperature of <35°C (95°F).

  • May take several hours...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Presentation varies with the temperature of the patient at the time of presentation.

  • The history is often apparent in the setting of outdoor environmental exposures. It may be less cle...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Prehospital (1)[C]

    • Factors to guide treatment (while helpful, core temperature should not be the sole basis to guide treatment)

      • Level of consciousness

      • Shivering intensity

      • Cardio...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • During acute episode

    • Monitor cardiac rhythm.

    • Monitor electrolytes and glucose frequently.

    • Monitor urinary output.

    • Follow blood gases.

  • Following acute...

REFERENCES

1
Dow J, Giesbrecht GG, Danzl DF, et al. Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Out-of-Hospital Evaluation and Treatment of Accidental Hypothermia: 2019 Update. Wild...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Rathjen NA, Shahbodaghi SD, Brown JA. Hypothermia and Cold Weather Injuries. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Dec 1;100(11):680-686.

  • ...

SEE ALSO

  • Frostbite; Nonfatal Drowning

  • Algorithm: Hypothermia

CODES

ICD10

  • T68.XXXA Hypothermia, initial encounter

  • T68.XXXD Hypothermia, subsequent encounter

  • T68.XXXS Hypothermia, sequela

SNOMED

  • 386689009 Hypothermia (finding)

  • 83966006 Hypothermia due to cold environme...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • The most common cause of hypothermia in the United States is cold exposure associated with alcohol intoxication.

  • With a severely decreased core temperature, begin resuscitation (if poss...

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