It is well-known fact that progressive hyperthermia exerts fatal damage on living body. But the lethal mechanism is not fully understood. So physiological studies were performed in animals with whole body hyperthermia by surface warming.
During hyperthermia, various parameters were serially measured including body temperature, aortic pressure, heart rate, blood gases, tissue blood flow, brain wave, hormonal responses and others. And, a number of pathophysiological changes were observed, including hyperthermia, hypermetabolic state, tachycardia, hypoxia, hyperkalemia, lacticidemia, acidosis, coagulopathy, endotoxins and others. From these results, it is considered that various factors are involved in the aetiology of whole body hyperthermia. but the elevated body temperature, metabolic acidosis, hypotension and hypoxia are the important factors which determine the fatal outcome.
