Jan 14 2023

Selects: How Therapeutic Hypothermia Works

Selects 55 min 3 movies discussed
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Physicians noticed centuries ago that people exposed to cold temperatures often have amazing recoveries from serious medical emergencies. Now medicine is learning how to purposefully induce hypothermia in order to buy time to fix otherwise fatal trauma. Find out all about it in this classic episode.

AI Summary

# Therapeutic Hypothermia: How Doctors Use Cold to Cheat Death

This episode dives into the fascinating science of therapeutic hypothermia, where medical professionals intentionally lower patients' body temperatures to prevent brain damage and extend the window of survival after cardiac events. Josh and Chuck explore how this surprisingly effective technique works at the cellular level, trace its history from battlefield observations to modern medical breakthroughs, and discuss remarkable cases of people surviving extreme cold exposure that seemed impossible. They also delve into the mysterious ways hibernating animals prepare their bodies for extended dormancy, revealing nature's incredible tricks that scientists hope to eventually unlock for human medicine.


Movies Discussed

M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
1970 1h 56m
★ 7.0
"It's not like Mash, where they just make it look super simple. — Referenced when discussing the chaos of battlefield hospital trauma operations." — Chuck
Prometheus
Prometheus
2012 2h 4m
★ 6.6
"Which is not just alien. That's a bunch of Sci-Fi movies. No, it's Prometheus, too. — Referenced as an example of suspended animation or cryogenic freezing concepts in science fiction." — Josh
The Shining
The Shining
1980 2h 24m
★ 8.2
"I mean, we've all seen the shining. We know the end. — Used as an example of people dying from exposure to extreme cold temperatures, referencing the famous ending scene." — Chuck

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