Emergency Medicine
Accidental Hypothermia
Swiss staging, passive vs active rewarming, ALS modifications, ECMO referral for stage III/IV with cardiac instability.
Source: ERC 2021; Wilderness Medical Society
Step 1 of ~7
info
Measure Core Temperature
Use low-reading thermometer (oesophageal preferred in critically ill, otherwise rectal/bladder). Tympanic unreliable. ABCDE — handle gently, avoid sudden movement (precipitates VF in severe). Continuous monitoring.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Neostigmine · Anticholinesterase (Reversal Agent)
- Prilocaine · Local Anaesthetic (Amide)
- Mepivacaine with adrenaline · Amide LA + vasoconstrictor
- Neostigmine with glycopyrronium · Anticholinesterase + antimuscarinic
- Lidocaine hydrochloride · Amide local anaesthetic / Class IB antiarrhythmic
- Bupivacaine with adrenaline · Long-acting amide LA + vasoconstrictor
Pathways
- Difficult Airway Algorithm (DAS) · DAS 2015; Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Major Haemorrhage Protocol · NICE NG24; UK MHP guidelines
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.