Wilderness Medical Society practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of frostbite

Scott E McIntosh; Matthew Hamonko; Luanne Freer; Colin K Grissom; Paul S Auerbach; George W Rodway; Amalia Cochran; Gordon Giesbrecht; Marion McDevitt; Christopher H Imray; Eric Johnson; Jennifer Dow; Peter H Hackett; Wilderness Medical Society

doi:10.1016/j.wem.2011.03.003

Wilderness Medical Society practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of frostbite

Wilderness Environ Med. 2011 Jun;22(2):156-66. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2011.03.003.

Authors

Scott E McIntosh¹, Matthew Hamonko, Luanne Freer, Colin K Grissom, Paul S Auerbach, George W Rodway, Amalia Cochran, Gordon Giesbrecht, Marion McDevitt, Christopher H Imray, Eric Johnson, Jennifer Dow, Peter H Hackett; Wilderness Medical Society

Affiliation

¹ Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. Scott.mcintosh@hsc.utah.edu

PMID: 21664561
DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2011.03.003

Abstract

The Wilderness Medical Society convened an expert panel to develop a set of evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of frostbite. We present a review of pertinent pathophysiology. We then discuss primary and secondary prevention measures and therapeutic management. Recommendations are made regarding each treatment and its role in management. These recommendations are graded based on the quality of supporting evidence and balance between the benefits and risks/burdens for each modality according to methodology stipulated by the American College of Chest Physicians.

Publication types

Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

Environmental Medicine
Evidence-Based Medicine / standards*
Frostbite / classification
Frostbite / physiopathology
Frostbite / prevention & control*
Frostbite / therapy*
Humans
Societies, Medical