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Flashcards in Environmental Medicine Deck (9)
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1
Q

In hypothermic patient in asystole, what temperature do you have to re-warm up to before calling it?

A

32 degrees

2
Q

What are the 2 categories of hypothermia?

A

Primary - Patient became hypothermic first
Secondary - Medical condition or something happened first then pt became hypothermic.

Distinguishing is important because in the first case if they are in arrest, there is a better chance of recovery. If the patient died first (ie. drowning, MI) then became hypothermic, survival is dismal.

3
Q

At what temperature does cardiac arrest and arrhythmias become more prevalent?

A

32 degrees and risk substantially increases below 28 degrees

4
Q

If Central line access is required in a hypothermic patient, what needs to be considered?

A

Go femoral as guidewire can precipitate arrythmias due to the agitated/fragile nature of the heart.

5
Q

What is the best way to measure core temperature in hypothermic pt?

A

Esophageal probe.

- there have been discrepancies with rectal and core temps.

6
Q

Why is hypothermia neuro-protective in a sense?

A

The brain has less oxygen and metabolic requirements when hypothermic and this is protective to damage.

7
Q

How is potassium prognostic in hypothermia?

A

> 12 mmol/L CPR should be stopped. There has been no adult survivors with K >6.4
- there was one case of K 11.8 in a 13 month old child.

8
Q

At what low temperature does critical coagulopathy occur?

A

34 degrees

9
Q

In an avalanche victim typically how fast does the body cool?

A

9 degrees/hour

  • typically good survival if burial time less than 35 minutes