Hypothermia in trauma patients
A recent study has shown 10% of Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital’s trauma patients were found to have hypothermia and a quarter of that number subsequently died, prompting further research to find out why, and whether more lives can be saved.
Hypothermia is usually caused by prolonged exposure to the cold, but can also be caused by other severe trauma to the body, like a fall on a road or an accident, and a study of patient records at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital has shown that it’s much more common than previously thought.
Research conducted at the Alfred has prompted a change in emergency practice to make it a higher priority and ensure a patient’s temperature is taken within 10 minutes of arrival.
