injuries poisoning
Hypothermia
Prognosis for Hypothermia
Patients who have been immersed in icy water for 1 hour or (rarely) longer have sometimes been successfully rewarmed without permanent brain damage (see Prognosis ), even when core temperatures were very low or when pupils were unreactive. Outcome is difficult to predict and cannot be based on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Grave prognostic markers include Evidence of cell lysis (serum potassium>12 mEq/L [12 mmol/L]) Intravascular thrombosis (fibrinogen<50 mg/dL [1.47 micromol/L]) A nonperfusing cardiac rhythm (ventricular fibrillation or asystole) For a given degree and duration of hypothermia, children are more likely to recover than adults. 