Objectives: Accidental hypothermia in trauma patients can contribute to cardiorespiratory dysfunction, acidosis, and coagulopathy, causing increased morbidity and mortality. The early recognition of the clinical signs of hypothermia and the accurate measurement of body temperature by prehospital care providers are essential to avoid deterioration. This review provides an overview of studies that examine the reliability of different core temperature measurement options, with a focus on the prehospital setting.
Methods: A search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL using combinations of the Medical Subject Headings terms "ambulances," "emergency medical services," "thermometers," "body temperature," "hypothermia," and "body temperature regulation." Studies up to October 2021 were included, and different measurement options were listed and discussed. Eligible studies included those that identified the specific type of thermometer and focused on the out-of-hospital environment.
Results: The search strategy yielded 521 studies, five of which met the eligibility criteria. Four studies focused on tympanic temperature measurement, and one focused on temporal artery temperature measurement. Among the noninvasive options, tympanic temperature measurement was most frequently identified as a reliable option for out-of-hospital use.
Conclusion: A thermistor-based tympanic thermometer that features insulation of the ear and a temperature probe with a cap is likely the most suitable option for prehospital body temperature measurement in trauma patients. These results are based on outdated literature with currently more novel temperature measurement devices available. Future studies are necessary to provide strong recommendations regarding temperature measurement due to emerging technology, the lack of studies, and the heterogeneity of existing studies.
Keywords: Body temperature; Hypothermia; Injury; Prehospital; Thermometer; Trauma.
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