25th July 2023

Management

The main principles are stabilising airway breathing and circulation, rewarming (warmed and humidified oxygen, heated IV saline, warm blankets, heat lamps), careful monitoring (ideally in an acute care setting) and treatment of complications such as cardiac arrhythmias. Assess and treat any underlying associated disorders, such as drug ingestion. Complications include multiorgan failure, metabolic acidosis, electrolyte imbalances and lethal arrhythmias. Overall mortality increases with the severity of hypothermia.