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Evaluation of warmed intravenous fluids in the prehospital setting
E S Cassidy1, C R Adkins, J H Rayl
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, 530 NE Glen Oak, Peoria, IL 61637, USA.
Introduction:
This study was designed to determine if warmed intravenous fluid (IVF) in the prehospital setting improves core body temperature and patient comfort.
Methods:
Data were collected in a controlled, nonblinded, prospective study during the winter months of 2 consecutive years. Prehospital adult patients qualified if they received a bolus of 250 mL of fluid (20 mL/kg for pediatrics). Patient and IVF temperatures were measured on arrival at the ED. If the patient's condition allowed, a visual analog survey was completed.
Results:
Twenty adult patients were enrolled. The warmed IVUF demonstrated an average temperature of 32.5 degrees C (90.1 degrees F) versus 23.5 degrees C (74.3 degrees F) for nonwarmed fluids. The patients with warmed IVF demonstrated a higher core body temperature than the nonwarmed-36.8 degrees C (98.2 degrees F) versus 35.5 degrees C (95.9 degrees F). Overall, patient surveys showed increased comfort with warmed IVF.
Conclusion:
Prehospital IVF can be warmed in the field and should help prevent the adverse effects of hypothermia. Although this study shows a trend in favor of warmed IVF, the population is too small to justify any broad statements. This matter warrants further investigation with a larger group of patients.