Extravascular Temperature Control for Heatstroke With Multi-Organ Failure: A Survivor's Case Report

Heatstroke is caused by a loss of control over body temperature. There is a high risk of death if it is not treated quickly and properly. In this article, we report a clinical case of a 21-year-old male patient treated for heatstroke with extravascular temperature control. The patient lost consciousness after being out in the sun for more than 2 h. His body temperature was 41°C upon admission to the district hospital, and then 4 h later, he was transferred to our department. The patient was administered extravascular temperature control with a target temperature of 33°C within 24 h. We rewarmed at a rate of 0.25°C/h to 37°C within 16 h, and the patient was taken off sedation to assess consciousness. After 2 days, the patient's consciousness improved from GCS 5 to 10, and the patient maintained a body temperature of 37°C for another 4 days. However, the patient still had liver failure and severe coagulation disorders on day 5. He was given fresh frozen plasma or plasma exchange. The patient was extubated after 8 days and discharged from the hospital after 24 days of treatment. In conclusion, extravascular temperature control can be used effectively to treat heatstroke, combined with the treatment of damaged organs.