Cooling Blanket For Neuro Patient

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Quick question while I'm at work, as I have no time to research. I'm taking care of a vented quadraplegic with high temps. His temp this AM was 103.2, he was put on a cooling blanket. The AM nurse states that whenever we turn off the cooling blanket he will spike up because he's a neuro patient.

His temps are probably neuro related as another source has been ruled out.

AM nurse left the cooling blanket at 19C degrees for 12 hours. I come in and temp is 95.0. I'm a little unconfortable as I know cooling blankets to be for the short periods of time.

Anybody have any sources of info I can read real fast and maybe print to educate us? What do you guys do?

Thanks I know I could research myself, or check the archives, but I'm really busy. Two vents and being in charge is so much fun. And I'm working the first of 4 12-hour shifts in a row. What was I thinking! eee!k!

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Tweety if he in ON the blanket the biggest hassle is Pressure areas - cold = peripheral constriction but you have probably already thought of that. I did work in a unit that kept them on for long periods but since that same place thought 2nd hourly dressings were still OK I would not use them as a guide.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Thanks Gwen.

This nurse wanted to leave the blanket on 24/7 even if the patient was febrile. For preventative reasons.

[CCU NRS]

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy

Thanks Gwen.

This nurse wanted to leave the blanket on 24/7 even if the patient was febrile. For preventative reasons.

We sometimes leave them on 24/7 for a day or two but I would say 95 is too cool I would either adjust control temp or turn it off for a while and premedicate with tylenol supp if ordered before turing off which will help keep it down some. If the Pt is high Cervical spinal fx C3-4-5 he may be have some temp regulating problems anyway is it new quad or is the neuro problem a new development? would be my questions remember without activity shivering is the only way the body can burn the fever off. The wonderful thing about our cooling blankets is the temp control is set manually you can turn it to whatever temp you desire I usually try to keep them around 97-99 F

Hope this helps

[Speculating]

Originally posted by CCU NRS

remember without activity shivering is the only way the body can burn the fever off.

I have to disagree with you there CCU NRS. Shivering increases temp. You have to burn more calories to shiver thus you produce more heat driving the temperature upwards.

[CCU NRS]

Originally posted by Speculating

I have to disagree with you there CCU NRS. Shivering increases temp. You have to burn more calories to shiver thus you produce more heat driving the temperature upwards.

you are definately right on that I guess I was getting my Ps and Qs backwards...it late here and I was spit balling sorry shivering definately increases temp, but the rest is basic coolong blanket therapy which is also why i usually try to keep them around 99