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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Testing the effect of a new pleural catheter "HeatCath" for the treatment of moderate hypothermia in a porcine model

Authors

;

Term

5. Term (Master thesis)

Education

Publication year

2023

Submitted on

Pages

17

Abstract

Formålet med studiet var at afprøve en ny central opvarmningskateter, HeatCath, til behandling og støtte af patienter med moderat utilsigtet hypotermi (farligt lav kropstemperatur), i et forsøg på grise. Vi vurderede HeatCath ved at måle opvarmningshastighed i grader Celsius pr. time og sammenligne med data fra den bedste kendte metode i litteraturen. En mål-hastighed blev defineret ud fra litteraturen. Metode: To bedøvede grise (49–53 kg) blev klargjort til ECMO (en hjerte-lungestøttende kreds) og nedkølet til 26 °C. Kernetemperaturen blev målt med katetre i blæren og i bughulen. Én gris blev randomiseret til intervention og opvarmet i 3,5 timer med HeatCath; den anden fungerede som kontrol uden aktiv opvarmning i samme periode. Efter 195 minutter blev HeatCath også anvendt på kontrolgrisen for at vurdere praktikalitet og opvarmningshastighed ved den givne temperatur. Resultater: Litteraturgennemgangen identificerede pleural skylning (skylning af brysthulen med varmt væske) som den bedste samtidige metode med en opvarmningshastighed på 2,8 °C/time; dette blev mål for HeatCath. I forsøgsperioden på 195 minutter var den gennemsnitlige opvarmningshastighed 1,3 °C/time med HeatCath mod 0,4 °C/time uden aktiv behandling. Under opvarmning havde interventionsdyret højere middelarterietryk (71 mmHg ± 8) end kontrol (61 mmHg ± 7), mens pulsen var ens (~57 slag/min). Da HeatCath blev startet på kontroldyret efter 195 minutter ved 27,1 °C, var opvarmningshastigheden 1,1 °C/time over 60 minutter. Konklusion: I denne svinemodel gav HeatCath en kontrolleret intern opvarmning hurtigere end ingen aktiv behandling og med mere stabile vitale tegn, men nåede ikke det litteraturbaserede mål på 2,8 °C/time. En videreudvikling af HeatCath kan derfor være gavnlig.

This study tested a new central warming catheter, HeatCath, designed to treat and support patients with moderate accidental hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature), in a porcine model. We assessed HeatCath by measuring the rewarming rate in degrees Celsius per hour and comparing it with the best available technique reported in the literature. A target rate was defined from the literature. Methods: Two anesthetized pigs (49–53 kg) were prepared for ECMO (a heart–lung support circuit) and cooled to 26 °C. Core temperature was measured with catheters in the bladder and abdomen. One pig was randomized to intervention and rewarmed for 3.5 hours using HeatCath; the other served as a control without active rewarming during the same period. After 195 minutes, HeatCath was also applied to the control pig to assess practicality and rewarming rate at the prevailing temperature. Results: The literature review identified pleural lavage (washing the chest cavity with warm fluid) as the best current method, with a rewarming rate of 2.8 °C/h; this became the target for HeatCath. Over 195 minutes, the average rewarming rate was 1.3 °C/h with HeatCath versus 0.4 °C/h without active treatment. During rewarming, the intervention animal had a higher mean arterial pressure (71 mmHg ± 8) than the control (61 mmHg ± 7), with similar heart rates (~57 bpm). Starting HeatCath on the control after 195 minutes at 27.1 °C produced 1.1 °C/h over 60 minutes. Conclusion: In this pig model, HeatCath provided controlled internal rewarming faster than no active treatment and with more stable vital signs, but it did not reach the literature-based target of 2.8 °C/h. Further development of HeatCath appears warranted.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]