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Overview :
A hypothermic
patient may experience "after drop" during resuscitation. This can result in
sudden detioration and even death.
After drop is a
drop in the core body temperature that occurs after rewarming has been started.
It occurs as cold blood in the extremities flows back into the trunk (core
body).
Ways to avoid
after drop:
(1) Do not let the person walk around
after being rescued. The person should lie still for at least 30 minutes after
recovery.
(2) Do not massage the limbs to "restore
circulation."
(3) Warm the head, neck and trunk but not
the extremities during the resuscitation.
| References: | |
Giesbrecht GG. Cold stress, near drowning
and accidental hypothermia: a review. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2000; 71:
733-752.
Hiles JM, Schriver JP, et al. A new
method of continuous venovenous rewarming. Curr Surg. 2002; 59:
186-189.
Immersion hypothermia. Accessed at
mmember.melpc.org.au
Neufer PD, Young AJ, et al. Influence of
skeletal muscle glycogen on passive rewarming after hypothermia. J Applied
Physiol. 1988; 65: 805-810.
United States Search and Rescue Task
Force. Cold water survival. www.ussartf.org.
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