Rapid Management of a Heat Stroke with Multiorgan Dysfunction and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation: Case Report of A 58 Years Old Water Well Driller

Heat stroke is a medical emergency with a high rate of mortality. Patients with heat stroke present multiple organ dysfunctions due to heat injury and inflammatory mechanisms. We report a case of a 58 years old man, water well driller, who suffered a heat stroke and was admitted in the intensive care unit of the provincial hospital of Zagora. The patient was initially in a convulsive state; a careful approach was taken regarding the use of mechanical ventilation that was not needed eventually due to the rapid improvement of his neurological state. During his hospitalization, he had atrial arrhythmia and acute kidney failure that improved after hydration, and acute disseminated intravascular coagulation treated with steroids, vitamine K and plasma. The hydration followed the parkland formula since the patient had 1st and 2nd degree sun burns estimated at 15% following the Wallace rule. The patient was discharged 6 days after his admission and transferred to the neurological department of the nearest university hospital for further medical care.