Ice water submersion for rapid cooling in severe drug-induced hyperthermia.

Context: The optimal method of cooling hyperthermic patients is controversial. Although controlled data support ice water submersion, many authorities recommend a mist and fan technique. We report two patients with drug-induced hyperthermia, to demonstrate the rapid cooling rates of ice water submersion.

Rewarming rates in urban patients with hypothermia: prediction of underlying infection.

Background: In the urban setting, hypothermia is commonly associated with illness or intoxication, with death often secondary to infection.

Objectives: To evaluate factors that affect the rewarming rate (RWR) and the ability of the RWR and other clinical markers to predict the presence or absence of underlying infection in an adult urban population.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of hypothermic patient visits to a large emergency department.