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

IntroductionHypothermia 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.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study to examine the behaviour of core temperature in patients undergoing pre-hospital anaesthesia for traumatic injuries.ResultsBetween 2017 and 2021 data were collected on 48 patients. The data from 40 of these were included in the final analysis.DiscussionOur 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. Core temperature drop after induction of anaesthesia is a well-known phenomenon in the elective surgery setting. We asked whether the same drop was evident in trauma patients receiving anaesthesia with intubation on scene. We found no evidence of such a decrease.dagger image