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(Circulation. 2005;112:IV-136 – IV-138.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

Part 10.4: Hypothermia

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Introduction

 
Unintentional hypothermia is a serious and preventable health problem. Severe hypothermia (body temperature <30°C [86°F]) is associated with marked depression of critical body functions that may make the victim appear clinically dead during the initial assessment. But in some cases hypothermia may exert a protective effect on the brain and organs in cardiac arrest.^1,2 Intact neurologic recovery may be possible after hypothermic cardiac arrest, although those with nonasphyxial arrest have a better prognosis than those with asphyxial-associated hypothermic arrest.^3–5 With this in mind, lifesaving procedures should not be withheld on the basis of clinical presentation.⁴ Victims should be transported as soon as possible to a center where monitored rewarming is possible.

	General Care for All Victims of Hypothermia

 
When the victim is extremely cold but has maintained a perfusing rhythm, the rescuer should focus on interventions that prevent further heat loss and begin to rewarm the victim. These include the following:

• Prevent additional evaporative heat loss by removing wet garments and insulating the victim from further environmental exposures.
  
• Do not delay urgent procedures, such as intubation and insertion of vascular catheters, but perform them gently while closely monitoring cardiac rhythm. These patients are prone to develop ventricular fibrillation (VF).
  

For patients with moderate to severe hypothermia, therapy is determined by the presence or absence of a perfusing rhythm. We provide an overview of therapy here and give more details below. Management of the patient with moderate to severe hypothermia is as follows:

• Hypothermia with a perfusing rhythm
     –Mild (>34°C [>93.2°F]): passive rewarming
     –Moderate (30°C to 34°C [86°F . . . [Full Text of this Article]