Association Between Preoperative Core Temperature and Postoperative Mortality in Patients with Major Burns

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Burn Injury
• Thermoregulation

Background:

• Major burn injuries induce significant hypermetabolism and disrupt thermoregulation.
• The prognostic value of preoperative core temperature in major burn patients is not well-established.
• Perioperative hypothermia is associated with negative patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between preoperative core temperature and postoperative mortality in adult patients with major burns.
• To identify preoperative core temperature as a potential predictor of surgical outcomes in burn patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 635 adult major burn patients undergoing surgery.
• Core temperature measured preoperatively in the ICU.
• Primary outcome: 90-day postoperative mortality. Secondary outcomes: 30-day complications (MACE, bloodstream infection, CRRT).
• Statistical analyses included Cox regression, ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier, and restricted cubic splines.

Main Results:

• 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 35.6%.
• A decrease in preoperative core temperature showed a graded increase in mortality.
• Lower preoperative core temperature (≤37.0 °C) was independently associated with increased 90-day mortality and higher rates of MACE, bloodstream infections, and CRRT requirement.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative core temperature is a significant predictor of 90-day postoperative mortality in major burn patients.
• Lower preoperative temperatures indicate greater physiologic vulnerability and elevated postoperative risk.
• Core temperature may serve as a valuable clinical marker for risk stratification in surgical burn patients.