Core temperature following pre-hospital induction of anaesthesia in trauma patients.

Abstract

Hypothermia is a well-recognised finding in trauma patients, which can occur even in warmer climates. It is an independent predictor of increased morbidity and mortality. It is associated with pre-hospital intubation, although the reasons for this are likely to be multifactorial. Core temperature drop after induction of anaesthesia is a well-known phenomenon in the context of elective surgery, and the mechanisms of this are well established. We conducted a prospective observational study to examine the behaviour of core temperature in patients undergoing pre-hospital anaesthesia for traumatic injuries. Between 2017 and 2021 data were collected on 48 patients. The data from 40 of these were included in the final analysis. Our data do not show a decrease in the core temperatures of patients who receive pre-hospital anaesthesia, unlike patients who are anaesthetised without pre-warming, in operating theatres. The lack of a change could relate to patient, anaesthetic or environmental factors.