Temperature management in the ICU: A practical survey from China

Objectives: Temperature management is an important aspect of the treatment of critically ill patients. While body temperature is regularly recorded in ICUs, there is variation in measurement location and instrumentation. Additionally, there is currently no standardized temperature at which intervention becomes necessary, nor are there standards for which cooling method should be used. Methods A 20-question survey was used to gather information on temperature management strategies from ICUs across China. Data such as method and frequency of temperature measurement, management goals, cooling measures, and management recommendations were collected. Results A total of 425 questionnaires from unique ICUs were included in the study, with responses collected from all provinces and autonomous regions in China. Mercury thermometers were the most widely used measurement tool (82.39%), and the axilla was the most common measurement site (96.47%). There was considerable variability in the frequency of temperature measurement, the temperature at which intervention should begin, intervention duration, and temperature management goals. While there was no clearly preferred drug-based cooling method, the most widely used equipment-based cooling method was the ice blanket machine (93.18%). The most frequent recommendations for promoting temperature management were continuous monitoring and targeted management. Conclusion Our investigation revealed a high level of variability in the methods of temperature measurement and management among ICUs in China. Since fever is a common clinical symptom in critically ill patients and can lead to prolonged ICU stays, we propose that standardized guidelines are urgently needed for the management of body temperature in these patients.