title: Effects of the HEET garment in the prevention of hypothermia in a porcine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypothermia is a common battlefield trauma occurrence. This study compared the effectiveness of the hypothermia, environmental, exposure, and trauma (HEET) garment (Trident Industries, Beaufort, SC) with and without thermal inserts with a control group of two wool blankets in the prevention of hypothermia in a treated hypovolemic porcine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five female swine (Sus scrofa-Yorkshire cross) were assigned to each of three groups: HEET with thermal inserts (n=5); HEET without thermal inserts (n=5); or control (n=5). After the animals were anesthetized and stabilized for 30 min, the swine were hemorrhaged to a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 30 mm Hg, simulating a battlefield injury. Hetastarch 6% (500 mL) was rapidly administered, simulating initial field resuscitation. One hour later, the animals' shed blood was reinfused, simulating transfusion at a field medical facility. The investigators moved the animal into a cooler set at 10°C ± 0.5°C. A pulmonary artery catheter was used to monitor core body temperature over a 6-h period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test were used to analyze the data. There was a significant difference between the groups. At the end of 6h, the mean core temperature for the HEET with inserts group was 32.69°C ± 1.5; the HEET without inserts, 31.02°C ± 1.8; and control, 34.78°C ± 1.2 (P<0.05). While all groups became hypothermic, the wool blanket group was most effective in maintaining body temperature closer to normothermia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HEET garments with and without heaters are ineffective in preventing hypothermia.
authors.affiliation: US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas 78240, USA. Arthur.johnson@amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gegel
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burgert
authors.forename: Geoffrey W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Duncklee
authors.forename: Ricci R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Robison
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Crum
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuhns
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seigler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001831:Body Temperature; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020896:Hypovolemia / Q000628:therapy*; D008887:Military Medicine; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*