Patient Warming Solutions for Trauma

All trauma patients are at risk of developing hypothermia and research has shown that up to 66% of trauma patients become hypothermic.

All trauma patients are at risk of developing hypothermia¹ and research has shown that up to 66% of trauma patients become hypothermic². Hypothermia is a well-recognised and life threatening consequence of injury that can increase costs, morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay.³

Patient exposure during assessment and resuscitation leads to heat loss, which can lead to a decreased core temperature and unintended hypothermia. A decline in core body temperature during assessment is common and can contribute to adverse clinical events and poor outcomes.

Patients require warming during assessment and resuscitation.⁴ Passive warming techniques have proven ineffective or obstructive during assessment.⁵ Active modalities such as over-the-body forced-air warming systems, while effective, also can be obstructive during assessment because the warming device is repeatedly moved to gain access to the patient.⁶

Flexible Warming with Unrestricted Access to the Patient

The 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Therapy Full Access Underbody Blanket (model 635) provides a flexible warming sol ution with unrestricted access to the patient. The clinical flexibility of the Full Access blanket allows the patient to be warmed during assessment and/or resuscitation.

Find out more about the Bair Hugger full access underbody blanket

¹ Peitzman, A et al (2002), The Trauma Manual 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 363-393, 404-410, 419.
² Soreide, E, Smith, C, (2005), Hypothermia in Trauma Victims, ASA Newsletter, Nov, Vol.
³ Tsuei BJ, Kearney PA, (2004), Hypothermia in the trauma patient. Injury, Vol. 35, pp. 7-15
⁴ Peitzman, A et al (2002), The Trauma Manual 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 363-393, 404-410, 419.
⁵ Smith C, Yamat, R, (2000), Avoiding hypothermia in the trauma patient, Anesthesiology, Vol, 13, pp. 167-174
⁶ C, Yamat, R, (2000), Avoiding hypothermia in the trauma patient, Anesthesiology, Vol, 13, pp. 167-174

Back