![]() ![]() Therapeutic hypothermia for specific clinical conditions has allowed such an empirical approach that has been exploited in two recent studies. If application of the pH-stat (temperature correction) hypothesis results in a demonstrably more favorable outcome than application of the alpha-stat (no temperature correction) hypothesis, then blood gas values should presumably be corrected for temperature. It seems that the only way of resolving the controversy surrounding temperature correction might be empirical, clinical outcome study. In a sentence that reflects the currently unresolved controversy, the authors of this study explicitly state that it is “ unknown if arterial blood gas measurements should be temperature corrected”. ![]() The same study found that 10 % of patients were mildly hypothermic (in the range of 35.0-36.0 ☌), 5 % were moderately hypothermic (in the range of 32.0-35.9 ☌) and 1 % were severely hypothermic (core temperature 75 % of blood gas results from 33 (27 %) patients. So what is the extent of the problem?Ī recent study of 10,962 critically ill adults found the incidence of mild hyperthermia (core temperature 38.3-39.5 ☌) and moderate to severe hyperthermia (≥39.5 ☌) to be 21 % and 5 % respectively. The unquestionable dilemma for clinical staff as to whether or not they should apply temperature correction to blood gas results obviously only occurs in the context of hyperthermia or hypothermia during an acute or critical illness that demands blood gas monitoring. But first, by way of introduction to the topic, there follows a brief discussion of incidence and causes of abnormal body temperature among the critically ill – the patient group most likely to require blood gas analysis.ĪBNORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE AMONG THE ACUTELY/CRITICALLY ILL Recent clinical study examining the variability in the use of temperature correction and its overall efficacy, in terms of patient outcome, will also be discussed. In this literature review article the detail of temperature correction will be described, along with relevant physiological issues surrounding the effect of temperature on blood gas parameters that inform the controversy. In fact, there has always been controversy surrounding the validity of this intuitive approach, with resulting lack of consistency in application of the “temperature correction” facility available on blood gas analyzers. ![]() Under such circumstances it seems intuitively appropriate to take advantage of the algorithms commonly provided within blood gas analyzers that allow measurements made at 37 ☌ to be mathematically corrected to the actual body temperature of the patient. A minority of patients who require blood gas analysis do not have a normal body temperature and are, because of their illness or treatment, either hypothermic or hyperthermic. This ensures that results reflect in vivo temperature condition. The process of blood gas and pH measurement involves preheating the arterial blood sample to normal body temperature (37 ☌) prior to measurement of pH, partial pressure of oxygen ( pO 2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( pCO 2). ![]()
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