Importance of thermoregulation in traumatic and haemorrhagic shock in the anaesthetized rabbit.

The effects of external thermal support was studied in 66 anaesthesized adult rabbits divided into six groups: control, traumatic shock and haemorrhagic shock; each of these groups had a subgroup with an external thermal support and a subgroup without support. During the four hour experimental period, anaesthesia alone resulted in a reduced core temperature and metabolic acidosis. The external thermal support attenuated these changes. In the shocked animals, the external thermal support reduced the mortality, assisted the body's thermoregulation and reduced the adverse metabolic effects of shock.