Rewarming: Slowly Achieving a Normothermic Temperature
Although the risk for seizures increases with rewarming, a discussion is warranted to review other risk factors associated with this process. Rewarming may cause peripheral vasodilatation, and the intravascular blood volume increases.[30] Hypotension occurs if the vascular bed is underfilled. Alteration in the cardiac function as a result of the initial hypoxic event may play a contributing role.[42] Apnea may also occur during rewarming, which requires rapid intervention. In experimental models, a mismatch between oxygen delivery and the consumption of oxygen has been demonstrated during the rewarming process.[30] In the clinical setting, this mismatch can be measured by serial plasma lactate levels; baseline and serial levels should be considered.
NAINR. 2011;11(3):113-124. © 2011 Elsevier Science, Inc.
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