J Trauma
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The May 1986 Mt. Hood climbing disaster presented Portland area hospitals the opportunity to initiate a trial of extracorporeal rewarming using cardiopulmonary bypass in ten severely hypothermic patients (two survivors). ⋯ Profound hyperkalemia and markedly elevated serum ammonia levels indicate cell lysis; significant hypofibrinogenemia suggests intravascular thrombosis and each laboratory marker predicts a dire outcome. The treatment of choice for severe accidental hypothermia is felt to be rapid core rewarming on cardiopulmonary bypass.