Bradycardia in a newborn with accidental severe hypothermia: treat or don’t touch? A case report

Kuonen, Astrid; Riva, Thomas; Erdoes, Gabor (2021). Bradycardia in a newborn with accidental severe hypothermia: treat or don’t touch? A case report. Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine, 29(1), p. 91. BioMed Central 10.1186/s13049-021-00909-y

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Background

Hypothermia significantly affects mortality and morbidity of newborns. Literature about severe accidental hypothermia in neonates is limited. We report a case of a neonate suffering from severe accidental hypothermia. An understanding of the physiology of neonatal thermoregulation and hypothermia is important to decide on treatment.
Case presentation

A low-birth-weight newborn was found with severe accidental hypothermia (rectal temperature 25.7 °C) due to prolonged exposure to low ambient temperature. The newborn presented bradycardic, bradypnoeic, lethargic, pale and cold. Bradycardia, bradypnea and impaired consciousness were interpreted in the context of the measured body temperature. Therefore, no reanimation or intubation was initiated. The newborn was closely monitored and successfully treated only with active and passive rewarming.
Conclusion

Clinical parameters such as heart frequency, blood pressure, respiration and consciousness must be interpreted in light of the measured body temperature. Medical treatment should be adapted to the clinical presentation. External rewarming can be a safe and effective measure in neonatal patients.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Further Contribution)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > Clinic and Policlinic for Anaesthesiology and Pain Therapy

UniBE Contributor:

Kuonen, Astrid, Riva, Thomas, Erdoes, Gabor (B)

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1757-7241

Publisher:

BioMed Central

Language:

English

Submitter:

Jeannie Wurz

Date Deposited:

19 Jul 2021 13:05

Last Modified:

29 Mar 2023 23:37

Publisher DOI:

10.1186/s13049-021-00909-y

PubMed ID:

34247627

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/157574

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/157574

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