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Hypothermia in critically ill trauma patients.
E J Rutherford1, M A Fusco, C R Nunn
1Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Injury
|April 21, 1999
Summary
Hypothermia is common in trauma patients, affecting 9.4% of SICU admissions. High mortality rates were observed, but survival is possible even with severe hypothermia.
Area of Science:
- Trauma critical care
- Clinical temperature management
- Patient outcomes in intensive care
Background:
- Hypothermia is a critical condition that can complicate trauma care.
- Understanding the incidence and impact of hypothermia is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of hypothermia in trauma patients.
- To investigate the mortality associated with hypothermia in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU).
- Hypothermia defined as a core body temperature below 35 degrees C.
- Analysis of demographic, clinical, and outcome data.
Main Results:
- 9.4% of SICU admissions (661 patients) experienced hypothermia.
- Over half of hypothermic patients (395) were trauma patients with a 52.7% mortality rate.
- Survivors had higher Apache II and Injury Severity Scores compared to non-survivors.
Conclusions:
- Hypothermia incidence in trauma patients is significant and not seasonal.
- High mortality is associated with hypothermia, but no specific temperature threshold guarantees death.
- Survival at temperatures below 32 degrees C was observed, challenging historical data.