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Hypothermia‐Induced Peripheral Polyneuropathy After an Episode of Drowning
Author(s) -
Collier Talia,
Patel Atul,
Rinaldi Robert
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.10.009
Subject(s) - nothing , memphis , citation , medicine , library science , philosophy , computer science , botany , epistemology , biology
It has been known that cold temperatures can have damaging effects on peripheral nerves. However, there have been very few documented cases in the medical literature of peripheral polyneuropathy as a result of accidental hypothermic exposure from drowning. The first documentation of cold injury to peripheral nerves was recorded in the 11th century [1]. There have also been reports of neuropathy during times of war, in connection with shipwrecks, mountain climbing, and hiking, and in persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs exposed to the cold outdoors [2]. Currently, there has been a large amount of research examining the physiologic effects of hypothermia in animal models. More recently, there has been an interest in hypothermia as a therapeutic agent for various medical conditions such as brain and spinal cord injuries. In this case report, we present a pediatric patient who was presumed to have a hypothermia-induced peripheral polyneuropathy.