medical decision support medical decision support
Sign In

Contraindications to Extracorporeal Circulation for Hypothermia from the Bernese Hypothermia Algorithm

Description

The Bernese Hypothermia Algorithm outlines the decision-making used in the extracorporeal support of a hypothermic patient. A number of findings may indicate that use of extracorporeal support is futile. The authors are from Bern University in Switzerland.


Patient selection: severe hypothermia with or without severe trauma

 

Purpose: exclude patients with severe trauma or asphyxia who are unlikely to benefit from extracorporeal circulation (futile)

 

Contraindications to extracorporeal circulation:

(1) grossly free blood in pleural cavity, pericardial cavity or abdomen on FAST and TEE (indicative of severe trauma)

(2) unstable fractures of pelvis and femurs (indicative of severe trauma)

(3) asystole despite CPR with presenting core temperature >= 28°C (indicative of asphyxia)

(4) serum potassium >= 12 mmol/L from central blood sample (indicative of asphyxia)


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Specialty