Skip to main content
Canadian Family Physician logoLink to Canadian Family Physician
. 1974 Jun;20(6):56–58.

Accidental Hypothermia In Man

B A Kats
PMCID: PMC2274200  PMID: 20469079

Abstract

Much is yet unknown on the pathogenesis of accidental hypothermia in man. Data are mainly derived from comparative physiological studies in mammals, but some knowledge has been obtained from direct clinical observation and the experience gained with induced hypothermia in anesthesia. The usual criteria of death do not apply to hypothermia and awareness of the altered physiology under such conditions is essential for quick and effective treatment. There appears to be a shift in rewarming procedures from superficial rewarming by conservative methods to the more aggressive forms of central rewarming. Despite practical limitations the latter methods, especially peritoneal dialysis, are more effective and decrease mortality.

Full text

PDF
56

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. CANNON P., KEATINGE W. R. The metabolic rate and heat loss of fat and thin men in heat balance in cold and warm water. J Physiol. 1960 Dec;154:329–344. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1960.sp006582. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Exton-Smith A. N. Accidental hypothermia in the elderly. Practitioner. 1968 Jun;200(200):804–812. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Fell R. H., Gunning A. J., Bardhan K. D., Triger D. R. Severe hypothermia as a result of barbiturate overdose complicated by cardiac arrest. Lancet. 1968 Feb 24;1(7539):392–394. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)91357-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HONG S. K. Comparison of diving and nondiving women of Korea. Fed Proc. 1963 May-Jun;22:831–833. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hanna J. M., Hong S. K. Critical water temperature and effective insulation in scuba divers in Hawaii. J Appl Physiol. 1972 Dec;33(6):770–773. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1972.33.6.770. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. LAUFMAN H. Profound accidental hypothermia. J Am Med Assoc. 1951 Nov 24;147(13):1201–1212. doi: 10.1001/jama.1951.03670300015004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. MILAN F. A., ELSNER R. W., RODAHL K. Thermal and metabolic responses of men in the Antarctic to a standard cold stress. J Appl Physiol. 1961 May;16:401–404. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1961.16.3.401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Marcove R. C., Miller T. R., Cahan W. C. The treatment of primary and metastaticbone tumors by repetitive freezing. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1968 May;44(5):532–544. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. PUGH L. G., EDHOLM O. G. The physiology of channel swimmers. Lancet. 1955 Oct 8;269(6893):761–768. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(55)92454-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Patton J. F., Doolittle W. H. Core rewarming by peritoneal dialysis following induced hypothermia in the dog. J Appl Physiol. 1972 Dec;33(6):800–804. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1972.33.6.800. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Philip G., Smith J. F. Hypothermia and Wernicke's encephalopathy. Lancet. 1973 Jul 21;2(7821):122–124. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Pugh L. G. Accidental hypothermia in walkers, climbers, and campers: report to the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention. Br Med J. 1966 Jan 15;1(5480):123–129. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5480.123. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Tolman K. G., Cohen A. Accidental hypothermia. Can Med Assoc J. 1970 Dec 19;103(13):1357–1361. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Truscott D. G., Firor W. B., Clein L. J. Accidental profound hypothermia. Successful resuscitation by core rewarming and assisted circulation. Arch Surg. 1973 Feb;106(2):216–218. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1973.01350140074021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Webb P. Body heat loss in undersea gaseous environments. Aerosp Med. 1970 Nov;41(11):1282–1288. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. White R. J. Hypothermic perfusion. JAMA. 1973 Apr 30;224(5):629–629. doi: 10.1001/jama.224.5.629b. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Zingg W. Accidental hypothermia. Med Serv J Can. 1966 Jun;22(6):399–410. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Family Physician are provided here courtesy of College of Family Physicians of Canada

RESOURCES