Sochet AA, Miller W, Bingham LK. Temperature Elevation During Neonatal and Pediatric Fixed Wing Transport in a Subtropic Climate: A Descriptive Study.
Air Med J 2020;
40:65-68. [PMID:
33455630 DOI:
10.1016/j.amj.2020.10.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe the degree of temperature elevation (∆T) among children transported in a subtropical climate (Florida) via fixed wing aircraft and identify potential relationships between patient weight and ∆T.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective cohort study in children < 18 years of age undergoing interfacility transport via fixed wing aircraft from January 2016 through July 2020. The study outcomes were ∆T, maximum patient temperature, ambient temperature, and heat index. Bivariate cohorts defined by patient weight (5 kg) were compared using Fisher exact, Student t-, and Wilcoxon rank sum analyses. Exploratory testing included receiver operator characteristic curve analyses and unadjusted logistic regression.
RESULTS
Of the 58 children studied, 25 (43%) were ≤ 5 kg, and 33 (57%) were > 5 kg. Compared with children > 5 kg, those ≤ 5 kg had greater ∆T (0.8° ± 0.6°C vs. 0.2° ± 0.3°C), maximum patient temperature (37.3° ± 0.6°C vs. 36.8° ± 0.4°C), and proportion with ≥ 1°C ∆T (36% vs. 3%). No child > 5 kg had a temperature > 38°C, and no differences were observed for heat index or ambient temperature. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of patient weight on ∆T ≥ 1°C yielded an area under the curve of 0.86 (cutoff of 3.5 kg; sensitivity = 81.3%, specificity = 80%). Patient weight was inversely associated with ∆T ≥ 1°C (odds ratio = 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.96).
CONCLUSIONS
Young children appear at greatest risk for developing environmental hyperthermia during interfacility fixed wing transport.
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