Abstract
We report herein consecutive 6 patients (3 males) admitted to our hospital with accidental hypothermia, between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011. These patients were 74 + 17 (50 to 95) years old. All patients developed hypothermia indoors; 5 of 6 cases (80%) occurred in the winter season (December to February). One patient had primary hypothermia and 5 patients had secondary hypothermia. At the time of admission, rectal temperature was 31.2 + 2.0 (28.3 to 28.1) °C. The electrocardiogram in 4 patients showed a J wave, which disappeared after rewarming. In all cases, active external warming measures were initiated. Two patients had a higher skin temperature than rectal temperature. Three patients died, after rewarming was completed, due to an underlying condition (liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe pneumonia). Body mass index was lower in the death group (12.07 ± 1.85 kg/m2) than in the survival group (22.4 ± 0.46 kg/m2). These results indicate that the prognosis of accidental hypothermia was poor in those with a lower body mass index.
