An Overview of the Implications for Perianesthesia Nurses in terms of Intraoperative Changes in Temperature and Factors Associated with Unintentional Postoperative Hypothermia

Abstract

Patients undergo surgery and anaesthesia on a daily basis across the United States and throughout the world. A major source of worry for these patients continues to be inadvertent hypothermia, once core temperature <36°C (96.8°F). Despite well-documented adverse physiological consequences, anaesthesia nurses continue to have a difficult task in keeping patient warmth pre-/peri-/post-surgical procedure. Thermostasis within postoperative patient necessitates the collaboration of many individuals. In order to provide safe and high-quality treatment, it is essential to use the most up-to-date data to guide therapeutic procedures targeted at achieving balance body temperature in surgical patients. Providing a review of the physiology of perioperative temperature variations and the comorbidities linked with accidental intraoperative hypothermia, this article will also provide preventive and treatment methods.

Impact of Intraoperative Hypothermia on Autologous Breast Reconstruction

“…The surgical literature has continued to reiterate the importance of maintaining strict normothermia; however, unintentional intraoperative hypothermia occurs frequently. The literature cites that unintentional hypothermia can occur in up to 50% to 90% of patients in the perioperative period, which is consistent with our findings of unintentional hypothermia in 36% of our cohort 31–34 . Our institution's preoperative temperature management protocol includes the following: transportation of all patients with at least one cotton blanket, maintaining preoperative ambient room temperature at or above 24°C (75°F), and preoperative warming with forced air warming blanket is pursued if patients are determined to be hypothermic (core body temperature <35.5°C).…”

“…The literature cites that unintentional hypothermia can occur in up to 50% to 90% of patients in the perioperative period, which is consistent with our findings of unintentional hypothermia in 36% of our cohort. [31][32][33][34] Our institution's preoperative temperature management protocol includes the following: transportation of all patients with at least one cotton blanket, maintaining preoperative ambient room temperature at or above 24°C (75°F), and preoperative warming with forced air warming blanket is pursued if patients are determined to be hypothermic (core body temperature <35.5°C). Intraoperatively, there is continuous monitoring of the patient's body temperature by the anesthesia team with mandatory use of forced air warmers and/or underbody warmers, use of warmed fluids/blood products, and intraoperative ambient temperature is to remain between 20°C and 24°C (68°F-75°F).…”

Impact of Intraoperative Hypothermia on Incidence of Infection in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction

“…A review of the literature demonstrates that unintentional intraoperative hypothermia is a relatively common intraoperative complication and has been estimated as occurring in up to 50% to 90% in the perioperative period. [24][25][26][27] At our institution, our preoperative temperature management protocol includes transportation of all patients with one cotton blanket and maintaining preoperative ambient room temperature at or above 24°C (75°F), with the option to consider preoperative warming to reduce the risk of perioperative hypothermia. For patients who are determined to be hypothermic preoperatively (<35.5°C), a forced-air warming blanket is used for active preoperative warming in addition to the one cotton blanket mandated for all patients.…”

Comparison of effects of administering warmed vs normal temperature intravenous fluids on body core temperature in surgical individuals.

“…To ensure safe and high-quality treatment, it is imperative to use the most upto-date data to guide therapeutic procedures aimed at achieving balanced body temperature in surgical patients. [16][17][18][19][20] On through literature search no local data available on the said topic for comparison. Single centre study is the main limitation of this work.…”