By reading this article, you should be able to: Explain the physiology of thermoregulation in non-anaesthetised adults and children. Describe the causes and consequences of perioperative hypothermia. Summarise the steps the anaesthetist should take to prevent and treat inadvertent hypothermia at each perioperative stage.

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There have been many advances in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition which Bellani et al, in the LUNG SAFE trial (Large Observational Study to Understand the Global Impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Failure), found represents up to 10.4% of intensive care unit admissions and 23.4% of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, with an unadjusted intensive care unit and hospital mortality of 35.3% and 40%, respectively. Studies have shown that prone positioning can improve oxygenation in patients who are mechanically ventilated for acute respiratory distress syndrome. This case report describes an example in which intraoperative prone positioning improved oxygenation in a patient after aspiration of gastric contents on induction of general anesthesia.

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