Accidental hypothermia–an update

Background: This paper provides an up-to-date review of the management and outcome of accidental hypothermia patients with and without cardiac arrest. Methods: The authors reviewed the relevant literature in their specialist field. Summaries were merged, discussed and approved to produce this narrative review. Results: The hospital use of minimally-invasive rewarming for non-arrested, otherwise healthy, patients with primary hypothermia and stable vital signs has the potential to substantially decrease morbidity and mortality for these patients. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has revolutionised the management of hypothermic cardiac arrest, with survival rates approaching 100 % in some cases. Hypothermic patients with risk factors for imminent cardiac arrest (temperature <28 °C, ventricular arrhythmia, systolic blood pressure