engleski

Urban hypothermia and accute respiratory failure in the elderly

Urban hypothermia occurs in elderly patients due to reduced awareness of coldness, failure of physiological mechanism of heat conservation, inclination toward orthostatic hypotension and change in tonus of the vegetative nervous system. If temperature is <32^oC, the ventilation is usually unable to eliminate the decreased production of CO_2 and CO_2 retention occurs. The cough reflex is depressed, bronchodilatation and bronchorrhea may occur predisposing to aspiration pneumonia and rewarming pulmonary edema. During 1993-1998 in winter time 14 elderly patients, 8 females and 6 males, aged 65-88 years, were treated because of hypothermia. The mean rectal temperature in the whole group was 31.3ą4.7, ranging from 20-34.5^oC. Bronchopneumonia with acute respiratory failure was observed in three patients and was the main cause of the lethal event. Their rectal temperature was 27, 28, and 33^oC, respectivela. All three patients died 18, 38, and 88 hours after admission, respectively.

elderly; urban hypothermia; pneumonia; acute respiratory failure

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