The medical term ‘Thermoregulation’ means – maintaining the core body temperature by either a heat increase or heat loss. Normal body temperature ranges from 36.1 to 37.2 ̊C. Hyperthermia is the condition when body temperature rises above the normal range, whereas hypothermia is a decrease in normal body temperature. Both conditions put patient’s at high risk.
Thermoregulation can be achieved by medication or by using certain equipment in healthcare units to save patients from the effects of hyperthermia or hypothermia. Hyperthermia affects the nervous system, and hypothermia can lead to extended healing time and complications during major surgeries. To avoid these side effects, temperature management systems can be used.
Temperature management devices
In the case of hyperthermia you might use the following equipment:
1: Cooling Blankets
Cooling blankets are used in hospital settings to regulate the patient’s body temperature. They comprise breathable microfibers that aid with absorbing body heat and provide comfort to the patient. Cooling blankets are filled with a chilled liquid that cools down the body temperature.
2: Ice bags and cold packs
Cold saline, ice bags, and cold packs can be used for patient temperature management in hyperthermia. These are used predominantly in patients with a fever to induce hypothermia. Using cold intravenous saline with ice packs in the groin, armpits, and along the neck is a good way to induce and maintain therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.
Ice packs can cool down a patient’s body. By applying the ice packs to the hands, feet and face you can reduce the body temperature quicker.
3: Thermogard
Thermogard is a patient temperature management device that helps manage patient’s temperature. It is a portable device and has a display to view patient data including temperature, status, and alarms.
It comprises a chiller and heater with a range of 0.5°C to 42°C, a 2-litre coolant, and a coolant circulating pump. A sterile, single-use, heparin-coated catheter is inserted intravascularly in the vena cava, which provides saline to the body and helps in maintaining the body temperature.
4: Intravascular cooling catheters
Cooling catheters are also used for patient temperature management in hyperthermia. Intravascular cooling catheters work by circulating cold saline through the catheter to cool the blood. This is one of the most reliable methods to lower the core body temperature of patients between.
Patient temperature management is necessary to control abnormal body temperature which can lead to very dangerous health conditions including shivering, cardiac arrest, or brain strokes.
