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Management of Severe Accidental Hypothermia

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Book cover Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

Part of the book series: Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine ((YEARBOOK,volume 2008))

Abstract

Doctors working in intensive care, emergency medicine, pre-hospital care, cardiac surgery and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) programs may be called upon to assist in the management of victims of severe environmental hypothermia. We focus on the triage of hypothermic patients who would potentially benefit from transfer to a tertiary centre. Often decisions made at the scene can result in a patient being transferred long distances to a hospital that does not have the ideal facilities to cope with such a severely hypothermic patient. The International Commission for Alpine Rescue (http://www.ikar-cisa.org), International Society for Mountain Medicine (http://www.ismmed.org), and the Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme medical committee (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation; http://www.uiaa.ch) have been instrumental in gathering data and publishing guidance for the pre-hospital triage and management of victims of deep hypothermia in the mountains [1]. The principles guiding the resuscitation of victims of accidental hypothermia in the maritime or mountain environment may be applied to everyday emergency practice, even in an urban setting [2].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiothoracic Surgery, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QP, UK

    G. J. Peek

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Defense Medical Services, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK

    P. R. Davis

  3. Birbeck Medical Group, Bridge Lane, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 8HW, UK

    J. A. Ellerton

Authors
  1. G. J. Peek
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  2. P. R. Davis
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  3. J. A. Ellerton
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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Peek, G.J., Davis, P.R., Ellerton, J.A. (2008). Management of Severe Accidental Hypothermia. In: Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, vol 2008. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77290-3_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77290-3_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-77289-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-77290-3

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