Severe hypothermia in the elderly
Scalise, P.J.; Mann, M.C.; Votto, J.J.; McNamee, M.J.
Connecticut Medicine 59(9): 515-517
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-6178 PMID: 7587179 Document Number: 450219
Hypothermia is not an uncommon clinical problem in the geriatric population. Several factors place elderly individuals at risk, including their reduced ability to sense and react to cold and their underlying medical conditions and medications. Successful detection and treatment of these patients involve an awareness of these risk factors and the characteristic physiology of the elderly, as well as an appreciation of the often controversial aspects of hypothermia management. Elderly victims of severe hypothermia have a particularly grave prognosis. We present one of the oldest reported survivors of severe hypothermia, and discuss some unique aspects of his presentation.