STudy to ActivelY WARM trauma patients (STAY WARM): a pilot study assessing feasibility of self-warming blankets in patients requiring a massive hemorrhage protocol activation.

Abstract

Purpose: Massively bleeding trauma patients often arrive to intensive care units hypothermic. Active warming blankets have shown promise in reducing hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting, but less is known about their in-hospital use. The aim of this pilot evaluation was to understand the feasibility of the Ready-Heat^® blanket in a level 1 trauma centre to improve the management of hypothermia in massively bleeding trauma patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational, feasibility study of 15 patients performed at a single level 1 trauma centre. Patients were eligible for enrollment if they presented to the trauma bay and a massive hemorrhage protocol was activated. Primary outcome measures (feasibility) included: blanket applied to the patient; temperature recording in the trauma bay, and next phase or final phase of care; and blanket remaining on patient upon arrival to the subsequent phase of care.Secondary outcome measures (safety) included skin irritation and cold discomfort. Use of the Ready-Heat^® blanket was considered feasible if 10 of 15 patients met all four criteria for feasibility.

Results: The Ready-Heat^® blanket was placed on all patients with mean time to blanket application of 24 (± 13.4) minutes. Thirteen patients (86.7%) met all four criteria for feasibility. Initial challenges were identified in the first five patients including proper blanket application, keeping the blanket on the patient through subsequent phases of care, and failure to obtain temperature recordings.

Conclusion: The Ready-Heat^® blanket proves feasible for this patient population. A larger study focusing on hypothermia prevention and treatment is warranted.

Trial registration number: NCT04399902.

Date of registration: May 22, 2020.