Aksidentell hypotermi og bruk av rotte som eksperimentell modell

Accidental hypothermia is an important clinical complication in emergency and disaster medicine. In military medicine even mild hypothermia may seriously influence the soldier’s physiological responses and therefore his fighting capacity. As a member of NATO’ military forces Norway has an obligation to be ahead in the understanding and management of clinical hypothermia, due to the geographical placement.This report summarizes problems associated with clinical hypothermia, and evaluates factors which may attenuate and complicate the clinical cause and management. We describe a simple rat model which easily lends itself to experimental studies of hypothermia. It discloses several aspects of hypothermia which have important therapeutic implications. In subsequent series of experiments the model will be used for evaluating the possible beneficial effects mild hypothermia may have when used therapeutically in haemorrhagic shock. 9)