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Thermoregulation, PICU/PCU — Treatment of the Patient with Hypothermia — Clinical Pathway: ICU

Thermoregulation Clinical Pathway — PICU and PCU

Acute Hypothermia

Use for the child without acute neurologic injury where hypothermia is not being used as a treatment.

This includes children:

  • On extracorporeal support (ECMO, CRRT)
  • Exposed to cold from the outside
  • Post-anesthesia
Acute Hypothermic Child
Temperature ≤ 34.9°C
Temperature 35-35.9°C
Active Rewarming
  • Consider Internal:
    • Warm fluids via hot line or
      rapid infuser
    • Increased ventilator temperature
    • Bladder irrigation
    • Gastric lavage
    • Prismaflo with CRRT
Passive Rewarming
Temperature does not increase
within 2 hrs or falls
Consider Active Rewarming
Select one only, remove Thermoflect if in place
While Rewarming, Monitor for:
  • Adequate urine output
  • Hypotension
  • Potassium, glucose disturbance
  • Skin injury
  • Inability to rewarm effectively
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