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Treating the hypothermic patient | VETgirl Veterinary CE Videos

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE video, we demonstrate the importance of active rewarming of the hypothermic veterinary patient. Active rewarming uses exogenous sources of heat to treat moderate to severe hypothermia. Some examples of commonly used active external rewarming techniques used in veterinary medicine include:

  • External warming devices (e.g., hot water blankets, heated pads, electric heating blankets, radiant heat, hot water bottles, warm rice packs, etc.): Circulating water devices can also be used and offer excellent thermostatic control. With circulating water heaters, the water is warmed by a control unit and pumped through the pad, allowing heat to transfer to the animal. One must use caution using certain warming techniques (e.g., microwaved warm rice packs, electric heating pads, etc.), as these can cause in thermal injury from direct or indirect contact.
  • Forced-air rewarming (e.g., 3M® Bair Hugger): These provide forced air through disposable blankets to allow convective transfer of heat to patients.

Bair Hugger VETgirl

  • Resistive heating (e.g., Hot Dog® warming blanket): These blankets transfer heat to the patient using a non-disposable, semi-conductive polymeric fabric that warms by electrical resistance (e.g., low voltage electricity).

Dog Dental HD2

Remember, hypothermia should be prevented and treated immediately, as profound physiologic effects can be seen with hypothermia that affect the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, and metabolic (including electrolyte, acid-base, and coagulation) systems, potentially increasing morbidity and mortality in the critically ill patient.

 

  1. Idk the water cycling was a tool, as most clinics here are small& have limited budgets. – since we completed this course; where do we test for credit?

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