Accidental Hypothermia

Question 1

What are the categories of hypothermia?

Answer 1

• mild (32-35)
• moderate (28-32)
• severe (<28)

Question 2

What are the stages of hypothermia?

Answer 2

I. mild hypothermia (conscious, shivering, core temperature 35-32)
II. moderate hypothermia (impaired consciousness without shivering, core temperature 32-38)
II. severe hypothermia (unconscious, vital signs present, core temperature 28-24)
IV. cardiac arrest or low flow state (no or minimal vital signs, core temperature <24)
V. death due to irreversible hypothermia (<11)

Question 3

What increases the risk of hypothermia?

Answer 3

• alcohol
• drugs
• exhaustion
• illness
• injury
• neglect

Question 4

What is the best method for temperature taking?

Answer 4

Use of an oesophageal thermometer

Question 5

At 18 degrees the brain can tolerate circulatory arrest for how much longer than at 37?

Answer 5

10x

Question 6

No one is dead until…

Answer 6

Warm and dead

Question 7

When should adrenaline and other drugs be witheld until?

Answer 7

Until body temp >30

Question 8

Once body temp is appropriate to give drugs, how often should they be given?

Answer 8

6-10 minutes

Question 9

When is passive warming preferred?

Answer 9

In mild hypothermia, when patients are still able to shiver

Question 10

What is passive warming?

Answer 10

• full body insulation with wool blankets, aluminium foil, cap and a warm environment

Question 11

In hypothermia stage II-IV what is recommended?

Answer 11

Chemical heat packs to the trunk

Question 12

In hospital how should hypothermic pre-arrest patients be warmed?

Answer 12

forced warm air
warm IV infusion

Question 13

In deteriorating hypothermic patients how should warming be performed?

Answer 13

ECMO centre