Hypothermia And Changes In An ElectrocardlOg ram In An Elderly Patient

Abstract

Introduction:
Hypothermia is a state where the body temp erature is below 35°C. It usually occurs in elderly individuals due to reduced awareness of coldness, failure of physiological mechanism of heat conserv ation, inclination towards orthostatic hypotension and change in tonus of the vegetative nervous system resulting in lowered peripheral blood flow during a rest as well as because of loss of vasoc onstrictive skin responses to cold’4.

Discussion:
The patient was under the treatment with benzodiazepine and promazine, what might have been, together with a relatively low ambient temw perature, undernourishment and dehydration, the factors leading to hypothermia.