Hyperthermia & Hypothermia Flashcards
What is hyperthermia?
A state of elevated core body temperature exceeding the body’s thermoregulatory set-point due to failed thermoregulation.
Often induced by heat stroke or adverse drug reactions.
What severe complications can hyperthermia lead to?
Multi-organ dysfunction.
Hyperthermia can cause various organ systems to fail due to extreme heat exposure.
How is hyperthermia managed?
Using active cooling techniques and antipyretics.
Active cooling may include methods like ice packs, cooling blankets, or immersion in cool water.
What is hypothermia?
A condition where the body loses heat faster than it can produce, resulting in a dangerously low body temperature.
Usually precipitated by prolonged exposure to cold weather or immersion in cold water.
What are some consequences of hypothermia?
Arrhythmias, impaired consciousness, and fatal complications like hypotensive shock.
These complications can occur as the body systems become critically impaired due to low temperatures.
How is hypothermia managed?
Using passive and active rewarming methods alongside supportive care.
Passive rewarming includes insulating the patient, while active rewarming involves external heat sources.
True or false: Hypothermia is a cause of acute pancreatitis?
True
At what temperature can shocks be delivered during CPR on a hypothermic patient?
When body temperature reaches 30 degrees.
What are three characteristic ECG findings in hypothermia?
- Osborn (J) waves
- Prolonged QT
- Bradycardia
What are the consequences of rapid rewarming in hypothermia?
Peripheral Vasodilation
Shock
Which emergency condition, seen in untreated hypothyroid disease, presents with hypothermia, bradycardia, hypotension, and confusion?
Myxoedema coma
Which direction is the oxygen dissociation curve shifted in hypothermia?
To the LEFT
