Coagulation During Hypothermia in Man

Clotting times, platelets, thromboplastin generation, prothrombin consumption, prothrombin time, and concentrations of prothrombin, accelerator globulin, proconvertin, and fibrinogen were measured in 10 patients after the slow induction of hypothermia and later during surgery and transfusion. In contrast to previous studies in the dog, uncomplicated hypothermia in man was not associated with a fall in concentration of clotting factors. Moderate disturbances in coagulation with surgery and transfusion during hypothermia were in most regards similar to those observed during surgery and transfusion at normal body temperature. The one significant difference was a decrease in prothrombin consumption.