Successful Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Multiple Trauma and Severe Hypothermia: A Case Report

Abstract

Severe hypothermia with a temperature under 28°C is rarely compatible with life, and there are only a few cases reported in literature where patients have survived such low temperatures.  We present the successful anesthetic management of a 30year old male who was found with a body temperature of 26.6°C, unresponsive, and intoxicated with deep facial and neck lacerations in the field, when the outside temperature was -15.6°C.  Through proper body rewarming and anesthetic care, we were able to save our patient’s life.