Prognosis
In many cases, little to no damage remains after hypothermia if the therapy could be started in time. The longer the hypothermia has lasted, the more probable are long-term consequences such as irreversible frostbite, nerve damage or movement restrictions. If cardiac arrhythmia has occurred, permanent damage to the heart action can also occur.
Therapeutic hypothermia
The conscious cooling of the body is used in medicine when too little blood supply, especially to the brain, is to be expected, for example during heart or brain surgery, after resuscitation or in the case of strokes.The reason for this is that hypothermia leads to a reduced metabolism and therefore the cells need less nutrients and above all less oxygen to survive. The brain in particular benefits from a slight hypothermia of 32 – 34°C, as fewer nerves suffer and are damaged due to the reduced blood supply. The fewer nerves die due to a reduced blood supply, the less permanent damage the patient will suffer.
If there are severe physical injuries or high blood loss, this method cannot be used because the risk of severe wound healing disorders is too high. The use of therapeutic hypothermia carries the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. The method is now also used for newborns who have suffered a reduced oxygen supply before or during birth and are therefore at risk of brain damage.