TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Hypothermia A1 - Kobeissi, Zoulficar A1 - Zimmerman, Janice L. A2 - Hall, Jesse B. A2 - Schmidt, Gregory A. A2 - Kress, John P. Y1 - 2015 N1 - T2 - Principles of Critical Care, 4e AB - Accidental hypothermia results from the unintentional decrease in core body temperature to lower than 35°C (95°F) and can be classified as mild (32.2-35°C, or 90-95°F), moderate (28-32.2°C, 82-90°F), or severe (<28°C, 82°F).Although hypothermia from environmental exposure is common, several medical conditions may also predispose to hypothermia necessitating hospitalization and admission to the intensive care unit.Individuals at highest risk for hypothermia include the homeless, the mentally ill, trauma victims, outdoor workers, those at the extremes of age, those with serious underlying medical conditions, and those with ethanol or drug intoxication.Multiple organ systems are affected by hypothermia: clinical manifestations depend on the underlying cause and core body temperature. Below 30°C (86°F), shivering ceases, level of consciousness progressively declines, and cardiac arrhythmias become more common.In the initial stages, wet clothing should be removed promptly, continued heat loss must be prevented, and any underlying illness should be identified and treated.Rewarming is the primary treatment for moderate to severe hypothermia. For patients with a core body temperature above 32°C (90°F), passive and active external rewarming and supportive therapies are preferred; for patients with lower temperatures and those with hemodynamic instability, active core rewarming using body cavity lavage or extracorporeal blood warming may be considered.In addition to rewarming, all patients with hypothermia need continuous monitoring of cardiac status, intensive fluid resuscitation, and circulatory support. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1107715049 ER -