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The effects of mild hypothermia on coagulation tests and haemodynamic variables in anaesthetized rabbits.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Hypothermia has been associated with coagulation defects. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of mild hypothermia on clinically used coagulation tests and on haemodynamic variables.
METHODS
Nine New Zealand rabbits were subjected to mild core hypothermia by administration of general anaesthesia and exposure to room temperature of 22 degrees C for 60 minutes. Blood samples were obtained at normothermia and mild hypothermia for measurement of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen levels, platelet count and haemoglobin concentration. Hypothermic values were compared to the normothermic values. Additionally, the progressive temperature drop and haemodynamic changes (blood pressure, heart rate) were recorded.
RESULTS
Core temperature decreased significantly over time changing from 39.4 +/- 0.27 to 36.6 +/- 0.28 degrees C (p = 0.0001). Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time decreased at hypothermia, but the changes were not statistically significant (p = 0.203 and p = 0.109, respectively). Platelet count, fibrinogen levels and haemoglobin concentration decreased significantly (p = 0.0001, p = 0.03 and p = 0.027) but remained within normal limits. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate declined significantly over time (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0001, respectively).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that short term mild hypothermia may affect the coagulation mechanism to a clinically nonsignificant extent, while haemodynamic responses are significantly suppressed.

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    • Authors

    Staikou C, Paraskeval A, Donta I, Theodossopoulos T, Anastassopoulou I, Kontos M

    Institution

    Department of Anaesthesiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 76 Vassilissis Sophias Ave, 11528, Athens, Greece. c_staikou@yahoo.gr

    Source

    The West Indian medical journal 60:5 2011 Oct pg 513-8

    MeSH

    Analysis of Variance
    Anesthesia, General
    Animals
    Blood Coagulation
    Blood Coagulation Tests
    Blood Pressure
    Heart Rate
    Hemodynamics
    Hypothermia, Induced
    Male
    Monitoring, Physiologic
    Rabbits
    Statistics, Nonparametric

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22519225