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Accidental Hypothermia and Cold Injury

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Clinical Pathways in Emergency Medicine

Abstract

  • The clinical features of hypothermia vary among patients and core temperatures are often unreliable; therefore, prompt recognition of each stage of hypothermia is crucial in its management.

  • Gentle handling of the patient is paramount since manipulation can precipitate arrhythmias in the irritable myocardium.

  • With failure to rewarm a clinician should consider underlying sepsis or non-infectious causes of impaired thermogenesis.

  • With regard to frostbite rewarming is an essential component of therapy but should be delayed until definitive care is imminent since refreezing following rewarming results in worsening tissue damage.

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Correspondence to Seelan Pillay MBCHB, FCEM (SA) .

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Pillay, S. (2016). Accidental Hypothermia and Cold Injury. In: David, S. (eds) Clinical Pathways in Emergency Medicine. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2708-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2710-6

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