Hypothermia Complications and Associated Electrocardiogram (EKG) Findings

Hypothermia is a relatively common occurrence typically seen in the emergency department (ED) during the winter months. The condition is defined by a decrease in core body temperature and classified by severity, based on temperature ranges from mild to severe. While initial symptoms have correlated with core body temperature, patient outcomes have not demonstrated a correlation. Shock occurs secondary to bradycardia and increased cardiac excitability, leading to arrhythmia, and hypotension can occur during rewarming if the peripheral vasculature is warmed prior to the core body. In this case, a woman was found unconscious in the early morning after spending the night outside without appropriate clothing. She was brought to the ED, and upon arrival, her rectal temperature was confirmed to be 28.3°C, placing her in the moderately hypothermic category. This case is an example of not only the initial symptoms of moderate hypothermia but also possible complications during rewarming, making it very important in the field of Emergency Medicine.