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The danger of fatal misjudgement in hypothermia after immersion
Author(s) -
THEILADE DORIT
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1977.tb10111.x
Subject(s) - medicine , resuscitation , hypothermia , immersion (mathematics) , anesthesia , oxygenation , mathematics , pure mathematics
A case is reported of the successful resuscitation of a 6-year-old child after 25 minutes' immersion in water at 4 degrees C. The difficulties of evaluating vital functions at low body temperatures, with the accompanying danger of fatal misjudgment, are pointed out. It is concluded that low body temperatures indicate that a considerably longer resuscitation procedure than normal should be undertaken, particularly in children, and that if the body temperature is above 30 degrees C rewarming ought not to take place before satisfactory oxygenation and an efficient circulation have been established.