Immediate Metabolic Response to Hypothermia in Man

¹ From the Anesthesia Laboratory, Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Total body cooling in man to 28–30°C during thiopental-curare anesthesia and hyperventilation was associated with arterial blood electrolyte changes similar to those observed during respiratory alkalosis without hypothermia. Metabolic alterations reflected in part the changes expected during alkalosis but suggested in addition an inhibition of the tissue uptake of glucose and its subsequent glycolysis. Metabolic acidosis did not occur during uncomplicated hypothermia; however, shivering, occlusion of major blood vessels and the transfusion of routinely collected blood led to moderate to severe metabolic acidosis.