Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia

Neonatal Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Repair

“…For example, heat is lost from the body to the cooler OR bed and to cold sheets and drapes. Evaporation is the transfer of heat as fluids convert to a gaseous state. Most evaporation occurs from exposed viscera, perspiration, respiration, or drying of prepping solutions 13 …”

Care of the older perioperative patient

“…With studies demonstrating an association with increased postoperative bleeding, morbid cardiac events and poor postoperative wound healing (Meeker and Rothrock 1999). Specific intraoperative actions that may be taken include keeping the patient covered for as long as possible and increasing the theatre temperature to reduce heat lost by convection (Moss 1998). The reasons for this are a patient's reduced metabolic activity thus less heat production, with fewer skin sensors to detect the cold (Bailes 2000).…”

“…Older patients are identified as having a decreased ability to regulate their body temperature often maintaining a lower than normal core temperature (Hogstel andTaylor-Martof 1994, Bailes 2000). Intraoperative lavage may be warmed to reduce heat lost by conduction, while the covering of large areas of skin not directly involved in surgery will reduce heat lost by convection (Moss 1998). Additionally a less efficient shivering response will reduce any efforts to overcome an identified temperature loss (Bailes 2000).…”

Warming up to better surgical outcomes

“…Maintaining normothermia must become a priority of perioperative nurses because of the serious consequences to patients 4 . To date, little has been done to develop standards or guidelines to prevent hypothermia.…”