Cooling blankets

IMBALANCED BODY TEMPERATURE If the patient is receiving the analgesic for reduction of elevated body temperature the nurse checks the temperature immediately before and 45 to 60 minutes after administration of the drug. If a suppository fonn of the drug is used, it is important to check the patient after 30 minutes for retention of the suppository. If the drug fails to lower an elevated temperature, the nurse notifies the primary health care provider because other means of temperature control, such as a cooling blanket, may be necessary. 

Georgiadis et al. Stroke 2002 33(6) 1584-1588 Nonblinded prospective hemicraniectomy for nondominant and cooling for dominant hemisphere 19 of 36 tx with hypothermia Hypothermia to 33°C with cooling blankets or endovascular technique on clinical course in pts with >2/3 MCA infarct 12% vs. 47% mortality for surgery vs. hypothermia. Hypothermia with increased complications of hypotension and electrolyte abnormalities. Both tx with longer ICU course... 

Schwab et al. Stroke 1999 30(5) 1153 Prospective pilot study moderate hypothermia in severe stroke and ICP 25 of 25 tx with hypothermia Hypothermia to 33-34°C with cooling blankets in pts with compete MCA infarct and ICP monitor 44% mortality, all by herniation after secondary rise in ICP after rewarming period. Good control of ICP during hypothermia period. Forty percent rate of pneumonia... 

Use antipyretics and cooling blanket where necessary ° Therapeutic use of hypothermia is currently not recommended... 

Control hyperthermia with acetaminophen and cooling blanket... 

Fans, cooling blankets, and tepid water baths. For severe cases consider sedation and neuromuscular paralysis. No role for antipyretic pharmacotherapy... 

A variety of supportive measures can be used, including cooling blankets, ice packs, or an ice-water enema. The goal should be to return the temperature as close to normal as possible. One should also be ready to treat complications and give supplemental oxygen with or without mechanical ventilation (the amount of oxygen and the method of delivery will depend on the patient s needs). 

Some lengthy surgical operations are performed with the patient wrapped in a cooling blanket to slow down metabolic processes, but not usually as low as the boys temperature in this case. 

A 20-year-old woman became unresponsive after taking two tablets of MDMA. She had a heart rate of 172/ minute, a blood pressure of 164/118 mmHg, a respiratory rate of 30/minute, and a temperature of 41.8°C. She was placed under a cooling blanket, with ice packs and fans and 30 minutes later her temperature was 40.8°C, with a subsequent fall to 37.9°C 20 minutes after that. She also had a deep vein thrombosis in the arm. She continued to improve and there were no sequelae. 

Foams are also used as fire suppressants. They suppress fire by cooling, blanketing, and sealing the burning fuel from the surrounding atmosphere. They are not suitable for gaseous fuel and fuel that reacts with water. 

Passive cooling - Blankets and barriers - Louvers - Heat pipes, pumped loops - Radiators - simple - reliable - long lifetime (ISyrs) - low cost and mass - proven technology - limited cooling range (>80K) - depends on surroundings (orbit condition)... 

Atropine was thought to have produced hypothermia in a boy aged 14 who was being treated with paracetamol (acetaminophen) and cooling blankets for hyperthermia (7). As atropine can cause hypothermia in animals, a causal relation cannot be excluded, even if a concomitant action with paracetamol is assumed. 

Hyperthermia Treat seizures and agitation consider cooling blanket, ice water lavage, and cool water mist of body... 

Withdraw the offending agent (most probably APD) immediately institute supportive measures (cooling blankets, ice-water enema, oxygen) Monitor vital functions (semm electrolytes, renal/hepatic/cardiac functions) Low-dose heparin (if patient is immobilized)... 

A water cooled blanket (and shield), ca. 1.5 m thick, made of vanadium alloy (e.g. V-lSCr-STi) and containing solid or liquid lithium. As much heat is produced, the lithium is used both for cooling and breeding and is pumped to heat exchangers for steam production followed by chemical treatment to recover the tritium. Cooling can also be achieved by He-gas, in which case the Li-system must be treated separately. 

Start 18-gauge i.v. line and begin infusion of 0.9NS Use acetaminophen or cooling blanket to Bring tPA to imaging area if appropriate to... 

Consider inducing moderate hypothermia (33-34°C) during the case with cooling blanket. 

---