Watching Everest documentaries, why is amputation the only cure for severe frost bite?

1.41K viewsBiologyOther

I would think the body would heal when it gets warm or medical technology is advanced enough to allow some healing.

In: Biology

21 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

In extreme cold, the human body tries to retain as much heat as possible, and therefore as much blood flow as possible to the vital organs. This means that blood circulation is greatly reduced in the small extremities such as the feet, hands, nose and ears.

The feet, hands and nose cool down more quickly than the rest of the body because they are no longer warmed by blood circulation.

If the drop in temperature continues, the blood and flesh will freeze.

Freezing is very destructive and there is no more oxygen reaching these tissues. After a certain period, the parts that have frozen are dead. There’s nothing we can do about it.

If nothing is done to thaw them out, dead tissue will start circulating in the bloodstream.

This risks generating a generalised infection, sepsis, which is fatal. The only solution is amputation.

You are viewing 1 out of 21 answers, click here to view all answers.