Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Rewarming”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Immersion of distal arms and legs in warm water (AVA rewarming) effectively rewarms mildly hypothermic humans.

INTRODUCTION: Active rewarming of hypothermic victims for field use, and where transport to medical facilities is impossible, might be the only way to restore deep body temperature. In active rewarming in warm water, there has been a controversy concerning whether arms and legs should be immersed in the water or left out. Further, it has been suggested in the Royal Danish Navy treatment regime, that immersion of hands, forearms, feet, and lower legs alone might accomplish rapid rates of rewarming (AVA rewarming). METHODS: On three occasions, six subjects (one female) were cooled in 8 degrees C water, to an esophageal temperature of 34.3+/-0.8 (+/-SD) degrees C. After cooling the subjects were warmed by shivering heat production alone, or by immersing the distal extremities (hands, forearms, feet and lower legs) in either 42 degrees C or 45 degrees C water. RESULTS: The post cooling afterdrop in esophageal temperature was decreased by both 42 degrees C and 45 degrees C water immersion (0.4+/-0.2 degrees C) compared with the shivering alone procedure (0.6+/-0.4 degrees C; p < 0.05). The subsequent rate of rewarming was significantly greater with 45 degrees C water immersion (9.9+/-3.2 degrees C x h(-1)) than both 42 degrees C water immersion (6.1+/-1.2 degrees C x h(-1)) and shivering alone (3.4+/-1.5 degrees C x h(-1); p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The extremity rewarming procedure was experienced by the subjects as the most comfortable as the rapid rise in deep body temperature shortened the period of shivering. During the extremity rewarming procedures the rectal temperature lagged considerably behind the esophageal and aural canal (via indwelling thermocouple) temperatures. Thus large gradients may still exist between body compartments even though the heart is warmed.

Adult↗

Rewarming from hypothermia. Newer aspects on the pathophysiology of rewarming shock.

The fatal circulatory derangements often observed when resuscitating victims of accidental hypothermia by rewarming are recognized as a falling cardiac output and a sudden drop in blood pressure, termed "rewarming shock". The real cause of this rewarming shock, or rewarming collapse, is, so far, unknown. This review presents current information exploring different aspects of the compromised circulatory function during hypothermia and especially after rewarming and supports the hypothesis that posthypothermic circulatory instability may be caused by cardiac insufficiency and alteration of the peripheral vascular bed. Cellular calcium overload, disturbed calcium homeostasis, changes in myocardial myofilament responsiveness to intracellular calcium as well as impaired high energy phosphate homeostasis could all be proposed as important factors leading to the changes observed in the hypothermic heart. Together with alteration of capillary function, increased capillary leakage of plasma protein, changes in intra- and extravascular volume-homeostasis and alteration of autonomous vascular control they all contribute to a maintained low cardiac output during and after rewarming which is associated with a fatal outcome.

Animals↗

External rewarming and age in mildly hypothermic patients after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of two external rewarming methods on body core temperature and the rate of rewarming between two age groups (less than 65 years, 65 years or more) of adult, mildly hypothermic patients who have undergone cardiac surgery, during the immediate postoperative period. DESIGN: Stratified, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Five-bed cardiac surgical intensive care unit in a large teaching-research institution. SUBJECTS: Thirty-two white patients who had undergone cardiac surgery and who had mildly hypothermic body core temperatures (33 degrees to 35 degrees C) immediately after the surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: Body core temperature was measured with a pulmonary artery catheter thermistor at the time of external rewarming method application and at 60, 90, and 150 minutes afterward. Rate of rewarming was measured as body core temperature change in degrees Celsius per hour (at 36.6 degrees C, minus body core temperature when external rewarming method was applied, divided by total rewarming time). Temperatures were recorded six times at intervals of 15 minutes; then every 30 minutes until a value of 36.6 degrees C was obtained, at which time the blanket was removed; then hourly for 8 hours. INTERVENTION: Either a fluid-filled circulating blanket (active-conductive external rewarming) or a reflective blanket (passive-reflective external rewarming) was applied immediately after core temperature was measured on admission to the cardiac surgical intensive care unit after surgery. RESULTS: External rewarming methods affected body core temperature differently at different times, and there were significant differences in body core temperature across the time periods (p < 0.05). Both active and passive external rewarming methods showed a sigmoidal rewarming pattern without a downward temperature drift. The fluid-filled circulating blanket produced a quicker and steeper body core temperature change in the early rewarming phase; the reflective blanket resulted in a more gradual temperature rise. Age did not significantly affect body core temperature, nor did age or external rewarming method significantly influence the rate of rewarming, although total rewarming time was longer for those of more advanced age. Seven subjects with passive rewarming method experienced body core temperature overshoot during the 8-hour period after blanket removal. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, conduction and reflection of radiant heat were equally effective in producing an acceptable rate of rewarming but contributed to different internal patterns in core rewarming. The average total rewarming time with the active external rewarming method was 1 hour shorter than with the passive external rewarming method.

Adult↗

Exacerbation of traumatically induced axonal injury by rapid posthypothermic rewarming and attenuation of axonal change by cyclosporin A.

OBJECT: Although considerable attention has been focused on the use of posttraumatic hypothermia, little consideration has been given to the issue of posthypothermic rewarming and its potentially damaging consequences. In this communication, the authors examine the issue of rapid posthypothermic rewarming compared with gradual rewarming while exploring the potential utility of cyclosporin A (CsA) administration for attenuating any rapid rewarming-induced axonal change. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to impact-acceleration injury and then their body temperature was lowered to 32 degrees C for 1 hour postinjury. After hypothermia, rewarming to normothermic levels was accomplished either within a 20-minute period (rapid rewarming) or over a 90-minute period (slow rewarming). Some animals in the rapid rewarming group received intrathecal infusion of either CsA or its vehicle, whereas the rats in the slow rewarming group received vehicle alone. Both the CsA and its vehicle were administered immediately before initiation of rewarming. Twenty-four hours postinjury the animals' brains were processed for visualization of amyloid precursor protein (APP), a marker of traumatic axonal injury. The APP-positive axonal density in the gradually rewarmed group receiving vehicle was statistically significantly reduced in comparison with the rapidly rewarmed, vehicle-treated group. For the group undergoing rapid rewarming and treatment with CsA, a statistically significant reduction was also found in the density of the APP profiles compared with the rapidly rewarmed, vehicle-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that rapid rewarming exacerbates traumatically induced axonal injury, which can be significantly attenuated by administering CsA.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

[Cerebral oxygen desaturation during rewarming in retrograde cerebral perfusion with total circulatory arrest].

To evaluate cerebral oxygen desaturation during retrograde cerebral perfusion with total circulatory arrest (RCP), we measured cerebral oxygen extraction (O2 Ext), and arterio-venous oxygen differences (AV DO2) during and after RCP and compared the results with usual cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using continuous jugular blood saturation (SjO2) monitoring. In the RCP group, 7 patients underwent aortic arch replacement with RCP and in the CPB group, 4 patients underwent valvular surgery with CPB. A 5.5 Fr oximetric catheter was placed in the jugular bulb and cerebral venous and radial arterial blood were sampled. Oxygen partial pressure and saturation were measured at six intervals from cerebral venous and radial arterial blood. Measurements were taken at the following phases: phase I: before ECC was established, phase II: immediately after ECC started; phase III: at hypothermia (18 degrees C in the RCP group and 28 degrees C in the CPB group), phase IV: during rewarming (30 degrees C), phase V: after rewarming (36 degrees C), phase IV: immediately after weaning from ECC. All 11 patients survived without neurological complications. The minimum SjO2 of continuous monitoring during rewarming in the RCP group was significantly lower than in the CPB group. AVDO2 in the RCP group was also significantly higher than in the CPB group during rewarming. O2 Ext in the RCP group was significantly higher than in the CPB group during and after rewarming. Differences in glucose utilization during and after rewarming were also detected. Moreover, to determine factors that influence SjO2 during and after rewarming, we evaluated correlations with arterial PaCO2, arterial pH, and rewarming duration. There were significant (p < 0.05) correlations between SjO2 and PaCO2 in phase IV and phase V, between SjO2 and pH, and between SjO2 and rewarming duration. In conclusion, continuous SjO2 measurements reflected cerebral oxygen desaturation during and after rewarming in RCP. In RCP, significantly greater desaturation during and after rewarming was detected than in CPB. Therefore we suggest that relatively slow rewarming, higher PaCO2, and more acidic pH strategies were advantageous for preventing desaturation during and after rewarming in RCP.

Adult↗

Efficacy and safety of prehospital rewarming techniques to treat accidental hypothermia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of inhalation rewarming and peripheral rewarming for reducing the body core temperature afterdrop and accelerating rewarming rates. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized human experimentation. SETTING: Physiology laboratory with cooling during ice water immersion and rewarming in rescue sleeping bags in a windy, cold (2 C) air environment. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: Eight experimental subjects who were cooled to clinical hypothermia (35.0 C), rectal or esophageal temperature (Tr or Te). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Afterdrop was characterized as minimum Tr and Te plus recovery time to the Tr and Te levels at the onset of rewarming. Rewarming rates 30 and 60 minutes after maximum afterdrop for Tr and Te were measured. By analysis of variance, inhalation rewarming and peripheral rewarming evaluated separately or in combination did not significantly influence afterdrop duration, afterdrop recovery, or rewarming rates. CONCLUSION: With no physiological benefit and hazards identified (inhalation rewarming burning the face, peripheral rewarming eliminating carbon monoxide equal to 300 to 600 ppm), inhalation rewarming and peripheral rewarming are not recommended for the prehospital treatment of mild hypothermia.

Accidents↗

Temperature and metabolic responses to inhalation and bath rewarming protocols.

Rewarming of mildly hypothermic subjects was compared using three different techniques that have been suggested for use in field situations. Eight subjects were cooled for up to 1 h, on four occasions, in a filled whole-body water calorimeter controlled at 22 degrees C. Following cooling, rewarming was initiated by one of four procedures: inhalation of warmed and humidified air at 40 degrees C or 45 degrees C, immersion in 40 degrees C water, or spontaneously by shivering. Deep body temperature was recorded simultaneously at three different sites: rectal, esophageal, and auditory canal. Skin temperatures were recorded from four sites: chest, forearm, thigh, and calf. Results showed that rapid external rewarming in 40 degrees C water produced the quickest rate of rewarming and smallest magnitude and duration of afterdrop. Regardless of which rewarming protocol was followed, the esophageal site always showed the smallest afterdrop. Although there were no differences in the rewarming rates calculated for each of the three core temperature sites during inhalation and spontaneous rewarming, both auditory canal and esophageal sites rose significantly quicker than rectal during the rapid rewarming in 40 degrees C water. Inhalation rewarming led to a depressed metabolic rate, compared to spontaneous rewarming, which was not compensated by heat provided through the respiratory tract. It was concluded that for mildly hypothermic subjects, rapid rewarming in 40 degree C water was the most efficient procedure and that esophageal temperature--the closest approximation of aortic blood or cardiac temperature--is the most sensitive to change during rewarming by any procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Computerized infrared thermographic imaging and pulpal blood flow: Part 2. Rewarming of healthy human teeth following a controlled cold stimulus.

AIM: To investigate the rewarming pattern and rewarming rate of clinically healthy teeth following a controlled cold stimulus using TI techniques. METHODOLOGY: A controlled cold stimulus was developed using an air stream at 20 degrees C. Gingival and incisal sites on 12 healthy maxillary lateral incisors in six patients were imaged under rubber dam following 20 s cooling. Images were captured at 10 s intervals during a 3-min rewarming period and the data used to construct graphs of the rewarming rate. Log transformation of the data was used to produce 'best fit' straight line graphs. Linear regression analysis was used to examine three variables, viz. the side of the mouth (right or left), the site of measurement (gingival or incisal) and the phase of rewarming (early 0-90 s, late 91-180 s). RESULTS: The mean temperature change (delta t degree C) during rewarming was 8.5 degrees C (SD 1.0 degree C) for gingival sites and 7.2 degrees C (SD 1.1 degrees C) for incisal sites. The slope of the 'best fit' straight line data enabled a rewarming index to be calculated for each site on each tooth. Linear regression analysis showed that the phase of rewarming was highly significant but the other variables were not. A one-way ANOVA showed no significant differences between or within groups. CONCLUSIONS: Three min is an appropriate time to record rewarming of teeth cooled for 20 s with an airstream at 20 degrees C. The side or site used to record surface temperatures using this technique is not significant. Rewarming is exponential and log transformation of the data produces a well-fitting straight line graph. The slope of this line provides a rewarming index which should enable comparison of TI and laser Doppler flowmetry in determining pulpal blood flow as a measure of tooth vitality.

Adult↗

Inhalation rewarming from hypothermia: an evaluation in -20 degrees C simulated field conditions.

The present study evaluates the efficacy of inhaling warm moist air as a method of rewarming from hypothermia in -20 degrees C field conditions. The method of inhalation rewarming is compared to two other methods of rewarming: a) passive rewarming; and b) passive rewarming, with a respiratory heat exchanger designed to minimize respiratory heat loss. Eight male subjects were rendered hypothermic by immersion in 15 degrees C water for 1 h. They were withdrawn from the tank earlier, in the event that their rectal temperature (Tre) decreased to 35 degrees C, or by 1.5 degrees C from the pre-immersion value. Upon completion of the immersion, they were placed in a well-insulated sleeping bag assembly and transferred to a cold room maintained at -20 degrees C for a 2 h rewarming period. They participated in 3 trials: Control-passive rewarming; Heat Treat-inhalation rewarming with the Heat Treat; HME-passive rewarming in conjunction with a respiratory heat and moisture exchanger (HME). During the rewarming period, inspired air temperature was -19.4 +/- 1.1 degrees C in the control trial. In the HME and Heat Treat trials subjects breathed via an oro-nasal mask. The inspired air temperature was +20.5 +/- 1.2 degrees C in the HME and +36.2 +/- 2.9 degrees C in the Heat Treat trial. The post-immersion drop in Tre was significant in all conditions. The reduction in the post-exposure drop in Tre observed with the Heat Treat may be attributed to the minimization of respiratory heat loss, since the magnitude of the reduction was similar to that observed with the HME.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Effect of a standardized rewarming protocol and acetaminophen on core temperature after coronary artery bypass.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgical patients who require hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass experience hypothermia, normothermia, and hyperthermia during the early postoperative period. Research-based rewarming protocols are needed to manage temperature variations. OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of a standardized rewarming protocol and acetaminophen on the following outcome variables: core temperature, peak core temperature, rewarming time, and hyperthermia. METHODS: Patients (N = 60) were rewarmed using a standardized rewarming protocol. Electric heating blankets were used for subjects with core temperatures less than 36 degrees C on admission to the intensive care unit; other subjects were covered with cotton bath blankets. Subjects were also assigned to one of three acetaminophen groups (650 mg at 38.1 degrees C, 650 mg at 37 degrees C, 1300 mg at 37 degrees C). RESULTS: Using the protocol, subjects warmed to normothermia in 3.6 to 6 hours. The 16-hour core temperature thermal curves of heating blanket versus cotton bath blanket subjects differed significantly; thermal curves of the acetaminophen groups were similar. Peak core temperature was significantly lower in heating blanket subjects and unaffected by acetaminophen group. The onset of hyperthermia was not significantly affected by the method of rewarming (electric heating blanket versus cotton blankets) or acetaminophen group. Rewarming time was significantly longer for electric heating blanket subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that mildly hypothermic subjects rewarmed with electric heating blankets during the early postoperative period have lower peak core temperatures and longer rewarming times than those rewarmed with cotton bath blankets. Acetaminophen administration at normothermia does not significantly affect peak core temperature or the onset of hyperthermia.

Acetaminophen↗

Accidental hypothermia and rewarming in dogs.

1. Twenty lightly anaesthetized dogs were cooled to 29 degrees C by cold-water immersion. Ventilation was spontaneous and the animals were allowed to shiver freely. Metabolic heat production and respiratory heat exchange were measured during rewarming. 2. The animals were divided into four groups each of five dogs and each group was rewarmed by a different technique. The control group was allowed to rewarm spontaneously; a second group was given warm (45-50 degrees C) fully humidified air to breathe in addition; a third group was rewarmed in a hot-water bath (42-44 degrees C) and the remaining group was given in muscle relaxant to abolish shivering and rewarmed by warm inspired air only. 3. The group rewarmed in hot water achieved normal core temperature most rapidly but there was no difference in the rewarming rates of the group rewarmed spontaneously and of the group given warm air to breathe in addition. 4. The group given a muscle relaxant and rewarmed with warm inspired air required 12 h to achieve the same core temperature as the shivering groups achieved in 2 h. Compared with the heat produced by shivering the amount of heat which it was possible to transfer across the respiratory tract was so small that it did not materially influence the rate of rewarming.

Animals↗

Comparison of four noninvasive rewarming methods for mild hypothermia.

Four noninvasive rewarming techniques for mildly hypothermic subjects were compared. Seven subjects were cooled in a water bath of 15 degrees C for 2 h to an average esophageal temperature (Tes) of 36 degrees C. Thereafter, the subjects were rewarmed by immersion of the body in a water bath of 42 degrees C (Method 1), the body but not the extremities in water of 42 degrees C (Method 2), only the extremities in water of 42 degrees C (Method 3), or spontaneous rewarming in blankets (Method 4). Method 1 showed the highest rewarming rate in Tes (10.1 degrees C/h) and an afterdrop in Tes of 0.18 degrees C. Method 2 showed the same afterdrop, but a lower rewarming rate (7.5 degrees C/h). In Method 3, the heat uptake of the extremities was too low to rewarm the subjects effectively. The afterdrop and rewarming rate were 0.38 degrees C and 0.8 degrees C/h, respectively. Method 4 had the lowest rewarming rate (0.2 degrees C/h), and an afterdrop (0.14 degrees C) which was not significantly lower than that of Method 1 or 2. Therefore, Method 1 is recommended for rewarming mild hypothermic subjects because of its high rewarming rate and small afterdrop.

Adult↗

Partial cardiopulmonary bypass for core rewarming in profound accidental hypothermia.

Six cases of treatment of severe accidental hypothermia using cardiopulmonary bypass for core rewarming are reported and eleven cases from the literature are analyzed. Thirteen patients survived. Overall survival was more likely in patients who had vital signs initially. Initial mean core temperatures in the new cases was 22.8 C. Surface and conventional core rewarming methods resulted in an average temperature increase of 2.4 C per hr. Electrical defibrillation was generally without success until the core temperature had been raised to above 30 C. Between one and six hours after admission, partial femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for core rewarming was started, causing a mean temperature increase of 9.5 C per hr. Four patients required a thoracotomy. Two patients had a massively dilated heart with contusions, and could not be weaned off bypass. None of the four long-term survivors had a demonstrable central nervous system (CNS) deficit. All patients developed temporary pulmonary problems; two developed wound infections. The average hospital stay was 21 days. CPB for core rewarming allows circulatory support while avoiding myocardial damage from prolonged external cardiac massage; rapidly increases the myocardial temperature and counteracts myocardial temperature gradients so that DC electroversion is successful; avoids "rewarming shock"; and improves microcirculatory flow. A prospective randomized trial to compare rapid surface rewarming and CPB rewarming is suggested. Immediate CPB for rewarming is recommended for patients in ventricular fibrillation with core temperatures below 30 C. Prolonged external cardiac massage (ECM) should not be used. The value of surface rewarming and non-CPB core rewarming methods remains undefined.

Accidents↗

Pretreatment with 3,5,3'triiodo-L-thyronine (T3). Effects on myocyte contractile function after hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming.

Circulating levels of 3,5,3'triiodo-L-thyronine are depressed after cardiopulmonary bypass and have been implicated to play a contributory role in the alterations in left ventricular function after hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming. The central hypothesis of the present study was that pretreatment of isolated myocytes with triiodothyronine will have a direct and beneficial effect on contractile performance after hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming. Contractile function in isolated pig left ventricular myocytes was examined by video microscopy after the following treatment protocols: (1) 37 degrees C incubation in medium (normothermia) for 2 hours with triiodothyronine followed by a 2-hour normothermic incubation with no triiodothyronine, (2) 4 hours of normothermic incubation with no triiodothyronine, (3) normothermic incubation for 2 hours with triiodothyronine followed by 2 hours of hyperkalemic, hypothermic cardioplegic arrest ([K+]:24 mmol/L; 4 degrees C) and subsequent rewarming, and (4) normothermic incubation for 2 hours with no triiodothyronine followed by 2 hours of hyperkalemic, hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming. Two hours of normothermia with triiodothyronine increased myocyte contractile function by 30% compared with values in untreated control myocytes, and this increase persisted after a subsequent 2-hour incubation under normothermic conditions with no triiodothyronine. For example, myocyte velocity of shortening in triiodothyronine-pretreated myocytes was 84 +/- 4.9 microns/sec compared with 62 +/- 2.8 microns/sec in control myocytes (p < 0.05). Cardioplegic arrest and subsequent rewarming caused a significant reduction in myocyte velocity of shortening from normothermic values (37 +/- 3.4 microns/sec, p < 0.05). However, in myocytes pretreated with triiodothyronine, myocyte contractile function was significantly higher after hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming (54 +/- 2.5 microns/sec, p < 0.05). In a second series of experiments, beta-adrenergic responsiveness was examined after pretreatment with triiodothyronine. In the presence of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (25 nmol/L), myocyte contractile function was increased by 26% in the triiodothyronine-treated myocytes compared with that in untreated control myocytes. This enhanced beta-adrenergic responsiveness with triiodothyronine pretreatment persisted with subsequent exposure to hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming. In summary, triiodothyronine pretreatment caused an increase in myocyte contractile function and beta-adrenergic responsiveness under normothermic conditions and after hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming. Thus the present study provides direct evidence to suggest that preemptive treatment with triiodothyronine may improve left ventricular contractile performance after hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and rewarming.

Animals↗

The role of inhalation rewarming in the early management of hypothermia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of inhalation rewarming in early resuscitative efforts for hypothermic victims. DATA SOURCES: Search of MEDLINE and manual retrieval using the terms hypothermia, resuscitation, inhalation and treatment. All articles and papers published within the last 5 years were searched. Earlier literature was also included if considered vital to documenting the scientific basis and rationale for using airway rewarming. STUDY SELECTION: Letters to the editor, review articles, case reports and original research were included in this review. Material was considered for inclusion if it contributed generally to the understanding of the role of inhalation rewarming in the stabilization or treatment of accidental hypothermia. RESULTS: The literature reported many instances in which inhalation rewarming appeared to contribute to a successful outcome during hypothermic resuscitative efforts. The maximum contribution that inhalation rewarming provides to overall core rewarming does not appear to endorse it as a sole method of core rewarming. CONCLUSIONS: The safety and efficacy of inhalation rewarming suggest that it is a viable adjunct of treatment during hypothermic resuscitation. Its routine use may be more appropriate for a field rescue situation where more advanced rewarming modalities may not be available or practicable. Also, its primary value may be to minimize further core temperature loss during early management of accidental hypothermia.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗

Influence of rewarming conditions after hypothermia in gerbils with transient forebrain ischemia.

OBJECT: Recently, several studies have demonstrated that hypothermia has a beneficial effect on clinical outcome; however, it is difficult to determine the appropriate rewarming conditions in clinical use. The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of rewarming conditions in gerbils with transient forebrain ischemia. METHODS: Ischemia was induced in the gerbils by a 5-minute bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, after which the animals were immediately subjected to moderate or deep hypothermia. After moderate hypothermia (30.5 degrees C for 4 hours) the animals were rewarmed over standard, fast, or slow time periods. After deep hypothermia (24 degrees C for 2 hours) the animals were rewarmed in a standard, fast, slow, or stepwise manner. Cerebral blood flow (CBF), extracellular glutamate, and lactate were monitored. Hippocampal CA I cell damage was assessed 7 days after induction of ischemia. In animals treated with moderate hypothermia, the rewarming rate had no influence on the number of surviving neurons. However, fast rewarming from deep hypothermia (to 37 degrees C for 30 minutes) failed to provide the neuroprotective effect of hypothermia. Furthermore, this group showed a poor recovery of CBF (p < 0.01) and, consequently, an increase in extracellular glutamate (p < 0.01) and lactate (p < 0.01) in the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate a transient uncoupling of CBF and cerebral metabolism during fast rewarming from deep hypothermia, whereas slow and stepwise rewarming periods were found to be useful for protection against uncoupling of CBF and cerebral metabolism during rewarming.

Animals↗

Bath rewarming from immersion hypothermia.

Trunk-only bath rewarming has often been recommended over whole-body bath rewarming as a method for the treatment of immersion hypothermia. At present, no report of a direct comparison of the relative merits of these techniques has been made. Authorities in favor of trunk-only bath rewarming base their proposal on the assumption that core temperature afterdrop would be minimized by preventing peripheral vasodilation when the subject's limbs are not immersed in the rewarming bath. In the present study, trunk-only and whole-body bath rewarming are compared by rewarming eight mildly hypothermic male subjects twice, once via each technique. It was concluded that trunk-only rewarming is not superior to whole-body bath rewarming as a therapy for mild immersion hypothermia, based on the findings that no significant differences existed between the two techniques, either in size or duration of core temperature afterdrop, or in rate of rewarming.

Adult↗