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Diagnosis

Authoring team

The use of a low reading thermometer permits a rapid diagnosis although 2021 European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines de-emphasise the measurement of rectal temperature for patients with severe hypothermia because temperature at these sites lags behind core temperature (1).

The symptoms of hypothermia are variable so the patient's account may be unreliable.

If in doubt, J-waves on the ECG are pathognomonic of hypothermia (2) although they do not always correlate well with temperature (2)

References

  1. Lott C, Truhlář A, Alfonzo A, et al. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Cardiac arrest in special circumstances. Resuscitation. 2021 Apr;161:152-219.
  2. Urdang M, Shoenberger JM, Triamarit P, et al. ECG analysis in accidental urban hypothermia. J Emerg Med. 2009 August;37(2):235.

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