Hypothermia

Etiology

Drop in core body temperature less than 95F (35C)

Usually occur outdoors in the cold, winter months

Half of all deaths occur indoors to the elderly, homeless, drug and alcohol abusers, and the mentally ill

Pathophysiology

Mild core body temperature 32 - 35C (90 - 95F)

Moderate: Core body temperature 28 - 32C (82 - 90F)

Severe <28C (<82F)

Signs and Symptoms

Diagnostics

Mild: tachypnea/cardia, hypertension, confusion, ataxia, dysarthia, shivering, excessive diuresis

Moderate: Decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, cardiac output, and consciousness, hallucinations, mydriasis, loss of shivering and airway protection

Severe: Coma, apnea, pulmonary edema, oliguria, hypotension, bradycardia, asystole

Immediate past history

Differential diagnostics

Drug screen to rule out other possibilities

Respiratory management

CPR with bag-mask ventilation

Mechanical ventilation: heated humidified gas, oxyhemoglobin curve shift to the left (assure minute ventilation is adjusted to support this)