Epidemiological study and key-point analysis of severe heatstroke patients / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate and analyze the cause of the illness, types and conditions combined with dysfunction of important organs and death of severe heatstroke patients in military hospitals in southern China. Methods 117 cases of heatstroke patients from Jan 1988 to Mar 2005 admitted to 8 military hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Results 94.02% of the cases occurred during military drill; 10% of patients complained of slight discomfort before or during the drill; the incidence of thermoplegia, heat cramp and heat exhaustion were 43.26%, 42.55% and 13.86%, respectively, in severe heatstroke, and the respective death rate was 9.76%, 5% and 23%. The incidence of severe heatstroke combined with liver dysfunction was 31.9%, with central nervous impairment was 14.9%, and with MOF was 21.3%. All patients survived when no organ dysfunction occurred; the death rate in those with single organ dysfunction was 3.6%, while it was 35% in MOF patients. Conclusion An attempt to set up a predicting index of heatstroke might be beneficial for scientifically supervising the military drill for the servicemen. Reduction of the core temperature is the“the first critical point”in the treatment. Other “critical point” in the treatment may also be emphasized for those with MOF. The present therapeutic system for heat stroke as executed in the military needs to be perfected.