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Hypothermia in the elderly: management in a purpose-built chamber.
P C Gautam1, S Ghosh, A R Mandal
1Department of Medicine for the Elderly, District General Hospital, Sunderland, UK.
Gerontology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
A specialized hypothermia room effectively managed elderly patients, preventing complications like rewarming shock. This method, using slow active rewarming with warm air, is recommended for geriatric care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Emergency Medicine
- Therapeutic Hypothermia
Background:
- Hypothermia in the elderly presents significant management challenges.
- Traditional rewarming methods can lead to severe complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a purpose-built hypothermia room for treating elderly patients.
- To assess the prevention of 'rewarming shock' and 'after drop' during treatment.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of 86 hypothermic elderly patients in a dedicated hypothermia chamber.
- Application of barrier nursing and continuous patient monitoring.
- Slow active rewarming utilizing warm air circulation.
Main Results:
- The 24-hour mortality rate was comparable to existing literature.
- Complications such as 'rewarming shock' and 'after drop' were successfully prevented.
- The specialized room facilitated effective patient management.
Conclusions:
- A purpose-built hypothermia room is a beneficial tool for managing elderly hypothermic patients.
- This approach simplifies care and prevents adverse rewarming events.
- Implementation in all geriatric departments is recommended.