Objective: To determine if lower ambient temperatures in computed tomography (CT) rooms contribute to accidental hypothermia (≤35°C) in trauma patients.
Methods: Prospective, observational study of trauma patients undergoing a CT scan at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Results: Among a cohort of 81 trauma patients, 54 met level 1 call-out criteria. Mean time in CT was 11 min. Longer time spent in CT contributes to greater decrease in body temperature (∆T/t = -0.1483°C/min, P = 0.0026).
Conclusion: Increasing time spent in CT leads to a decrease in body temperature in trauma patients. Clinicians should actively reduce time spent in the CT room and take active warming measures.
Keywords: accidental hypothermia; major trauma; trauma imaging; trauma patients.
© 2022 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.