Severe Accidental Hypothermia Center. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Darocha, Tomasz; Kosiński, Sylweriusz; Jarosz, Anna; Gałązkowski, Robert; Sadowski, Jerzy; Drwiła, Rafał
• Is Part Of: European journal of emergency medicine. Volume 22:Number 4(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: accidental hypothermia -- cardiac arrest -- extracorporeal life support; Emergency medicine -- Europe -- Periodicals; Medical emergencies -- Europe -- Periodicals; Emergency medical services -- Europe -- Periodicals; Emergencies -- Europe -- Periodicals; Emergency Medical Services -- Europe -- Periodicals; Emergency Medicine -- Europe -- periodicals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1097/MEJ.0000000000000213
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-9546

Abstract

Abstract : Hypothermic patients may be rewarmed using passive or active techniques. In case of severe accidental hypothermia (temperature<28°C) and stage III/IV according to the Swiss Staging System, standard methods might not be effective and aggressive treatment is needed. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has proved to be both effective and safe in such cases. The Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, John Paul II Hospital, Cracow, Poland, established the Severe Accidental Hypothermia Center, which provides 24 h on-call to consult and accept patients who need ECMO implantation for profound hypothermia rewarming. Our center is so far the only one in Poland and can accept patients from south-east Poland. Most importantly, it collaborates with all prehospital medical services, namely, with 115 Ambulances, Polish Medical Air Rescue, Mountain Rescue Services, and all 28 Emergency Departments in the area. Severe Accidental Hypothermia Center is a solution for advanced treatment of patients with accidental hypothermia requiring ECMO implantation.