Diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic hypothermia in hospitals – a pilot study

• Authors: Paweł Podsiadło , Sylweriusz Kosiński , Tomasz Darocha , Katherine Zerebiec , Przemysław Wolak , Stanislas Kielczewski , Sławomir Plewa , Stanisław Głuszek

Abstracts

EN

Background: An unintentional drop in core body temperature of trauma victims is associated with increased mortality. Thermoregulation is impaired in these patients, especially when treated with opioids or anesthetics. Careful thermal insulation and active warming are necessary to maintain normothermia. The aim of the study was to assess the equipment and procedures for diagnosing and managing post-traumatic hypothermia in Polish hospitals. Methods: Survey forms regarding equipment and procedures on monitoring of core temperature (Tc) and active warming were distributed to every hospital that admits trauma victims in the Holy Cross Province. Questionnaires were addressed to surgery departments, intensive care units (ICUs), and operating rooms (ORs). Results: 92% of surgery departments did not have equipment to measure core body temperature and 85% did not have equipment to rewarm patients. Every ICU had equipment to measure Tc and 83% had active warming devices. In 50% of ICUs, there were no rewarming protocols based on Tc and the initiation of rewarming was left to the physician’s discretion. In 58% of ORs, Tc was not monitored and in 33% the patients were not actively warmed. Conclusions: The majority of surveyed ICUs and ORs are adequately equipped to identify and treat hypothermia, however the criteria for initiating Tc monitoring and rewarming remain unstandardized. Surgery departments are not prepared to manage post-traumatic hypothermia.

Keywords

EN

trauma; hypothermia; resuscitation; emergency medicine; rewarming

• Publisher: Index Copernicus International
• Journal: Polish Journal of Surgery
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 91(2)
• Pages: 25-29

Dates

published

2019-02-07

Contributors

author

Paweł Podsiadło

author

Sylweriusz Kosiński

author

Tomasz Darocha

author

Katherine Zerebiec

author

Przemysław Wolak

author

Stanislas Kielczewski

author

Sławomir Plewa

author

Stanisław Głuszek

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/01.3001.0013.0146