General Hypothermia for Managing Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

Abstract
Three patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage were treated with prolonged total body hypothermia after other nonoperative measures failed. In each instance the bleeding stopped and has not recurred. Previous experience with operative procedures supported the decision against reoperation for control of hemorrhage. Recurrent bleeding from a postbulbar duodenal ulcer was diagnosed in one case but in the others the bleeding site was not known. Rectal or esophageal temperatures were kept between 30 and 32°C. It is recommended that rewarming begin 24 hours after bleeding has stopped. The satisfactory results in these three cases suggest further trials.

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