Method for treating hypothermia

摘要

In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for treating hypothermia and for protecting a human or animal against hypothermia. The present invention relates to a method for protecting a human or animal from damage during hypothermia such as occurs in hypothermic bypass surgery. The surface active copolymer can be an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide condensation product with the following general formula: HO(C2H4O)b(C3H6O)a(C2H4O)bH wherein a is an integer such that the hydrophobe represented by (C3H6O) has a molecular weight of approximately 950 to 4000 daltons, preferably approximately 1200 to 3500 daltons, and b is an integer such that the hydrophile portion represented by (C2H4O) constitutes approximately 50% to 90% by weight of the compound.