[Accidental hypothermia--case contribution to the clinical aspects and therapy]

It is reported on the successful treatment of a 60-year-old female patient with extreme accidental hypothermia (body temperature 24 degrees C). Cardiac and pulmonary complications could be commanded by intensiv-therapeutic measures. As interesting findings at the time of hospitalisation are exhibited the Osborn-wave in the ECG (first description in a clinical case), the alkalosis (pH 7.52) and a good diuresis (60 ml/min). The prognosis of the accidental hypothermia depends on the duration of the chilling, the rapid transfer under control of a physician into an intensive therapy facility, optimal control and therapy of cardio-vascular and respiratory system, the time of re-warming and the previous injuries as well as the concomitant diseases. The time of re-warming is of importance especially in asystolia and in ventricular fibrillation, in order to reach the defibrillation threshold of 26.6 degrees C. The forms of re-warming (combination of inner and outer re-warming) are to be chosen individually and according to the possibilities. They do not play the role expected for the prognosis. A repeated examination of the patient described after 14 months showed normal according to age organic functions without late lesions.