Accidental hypothermia: a report of 22 cases and review of the literature.

Most of our 22 patients with hypothermia were alcoholics, with a variety of serious complications of their disease. The prevalence of hypoglycemia (41%), sepsis (41%), and pulmonary complications (36%) was surprisingly high in this group of hypothermia victims, and the death rate (36%) relatively low. All patients in our series were passively rewarmed and given conservative drug and fluid management under close monitor.