Accidental hypothermia

Abstract

Hypothermia is defined as an unintentional decrease of core body temperature below 35 °C. In this article we discuss pathophysiology, clinical aspects and treatment of hypothermic patients. The most important treatment of hypothermia is the identification of the most appropriate method of rewarming. We report a case of cardiac arrest secondary to severe accidental hypothermia, that occured in a young man, do to prolonged exposure to low temperature in river water, successfully treated with extracorporeal blood warming.