Protective effect of ethyl alcohol in profound hypothermia

Webb, Watts R.; Harrison, Norman; Dodds, R. P.; Wax, Stennis D.; Sugg, W.L.

doi:10.1016/s0011-2240(68)80126-9

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This result runs contrary to the observation that ethanol protects the myocardium in hypothermia (Webb et al 1968;MacGregor et al 1966) nor does it fit in completely with the notion that myocardial lesions in hypothermia are caused by increased catecholamines, as Gilmour and Mallow (1977) found that ethanol prevents the myocardial damage caused by a single dose of adrenaline, the effect even being dose-dependent. These discrepancies cannot be explained, but species characteristics and some unknown combined effect of ethanol and hypothermia on muscle cell metabolism may perhaps be involved.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

“…The severity and type of the lesion was studied using proven muscle stainings and examining the release of muscle enzymes into the serum. In addition, the effect of ethanol on the development of the lesions was tested, as many studies have shown that ethanol can keep the heart beating in deeper hypothermia than could be survived otherwise (McGregor et al 1966;Webb et al 1968;Duthie and White 1977).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in the myocardium and skeletal muscle in guinea pigs in cold exposure with and without ethanol

et al. 1980

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The effect of hypothermia with and without ethanol on the myocardium and skeletal muscle was studied. Changes were observed in both muscle types. The mildest lesions were discoloration of the muscle cells with acid fuchsin and Heidenhain's iron haematoxylin staining, these being more marked in the skeletal muscle. Waving and contraction bands in the muscle were seen in hypothermia. The most severe lesion was a focus with oedema and haemorrhage, a reduced reaction of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and fragmentation of the muscle cells, and this was more frequent in the myocardium. Occasionally discoloration, contraction bands and waving were also seen in the controls killed by a blow on the neck. The changes were more numerous in the guinea pigs given ethanol before cold exposure, and serum creatinine phosphokinase was elevated in the same group. Urinary excretion of adrenaline increased in cold exposure, but noradrenaline did not change significantly. Hypoxia, catecholamines, and sludging of the blood are discussed as possible aetiological factors for the lesions.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

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confidence: 99%

Changes in the myocardium and skeletal muscle in guinea pigs in cold exposure with and without ethanol

et al. 1980

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“…Ethyl alcohol has been shown to reduce the threshold for lethal arrhythmias by about 2-5 °C. 10 Thus, an adequate circulation can be maintained at lower temperature within ethyl alcohol intoxication 11 . Similarly, carbamazepine intoxication can improve the neurological outcome in deeply hypothermic patients due to their brain protective eff ects 12 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ECC is the rewarming modality of choice for accidental deep hypothermia with cardiac arrest, since it is the fastest method of rewarming, it provides adequate and immediate circulatory support, and it may improve tissue perfusion by hemodilution. Furthermore, metabolic disturbances can be corrected rapidly and the body core is rewarmed before the rest of the body, thus preventing shock due to peripheral vasodilatation 3,4,10 . The long-term neurological outcome of survivors favours ECC for rewarming in deeply hypothermic patients in comparison with other rewarming modalities 4,13,14 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accidental Deep Hypothermia With Cardiac Arrest. Prompt Complete Recovery After Rewarming by Extracorporeal Circulation. Case Report

Šimek¹,

Hájek²,

Bruk³

et al. 2007

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub

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“…On the other hand, it seems clear from animal experiments that alcohol lowers the critical borders for lethal arrhythmias and ECG-changes to develop by 2-5°C (47,51), and nearly all human beings surviving serious accidental hypothermia have been alcohol-intoxicated (26, 52-55).…”

Section: Predisposing Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%