Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- cold exposure and body temperature <35°C (<95°F)
- impaired mental state
- shivering
- frostbite
Other diagnostic factors
- tachypnoea, tachycardia, hypertension if mild hypothermia
- respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension if moderate hypothermia
- coma and apnoea if severe hypothermia
- cold-induced diuresis
Risk factors
- general anaesthetic use
- substance abuse
- impaired mental status
- hypothyroidism
- stroke
- Parkinson's disease
- neuroleptic medication
- beta-blocker medication
- sedative hypnotic medication
- homelessness
- older age
- infants and young children
- gram-negative septicaemia
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- core temperature measurement
- 12-lead ECG
- FBC
- serum electrolytes
- blood glucose
- ABG
- coagulation factors
- CXR
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
AuthorsVIEW ALL
Attending Surgeon
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Montefiore Medical Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx
NY
Disclosures
EAA declares that he has no competing interests.
Director
Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Long Island Jewish Medical Center
New Hyde Park
NY
Disclosures
RB declares that he has no competing interests.
Dr Emmanuel Agaba and Dr Rafael Barrera would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr Juan Jose Gilbert. JJG declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewersVIEW ALL
Clinical Professor
Department of Family Medicine
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill
Assistant Program Director
MAHEC Rural Family Medicine Residency
Hendersonville
NC
Disclosures
WM declares that he has no competing interests.
Honorary Professor
Department of Physiology
University College London
London
UK
Disclosures
JSM declares that he has no competing interests.
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