Reducing the Risk of Unplanned Perioperative Hypothermia

Abstract

Maintaining normothermia is important for patient safety, positive surgical outcomes, and increased patient satisfaction. Causes of unplanned hypothermia in the OR include cold room temperatures, the effects of anesthesia, cold IV and irrigation fluids, skin and wound exposure, and patient risk factors. Nurses at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, Pennsylvania, performed a quality improvement project to evaluate the effectiveness of using warm blankets, warm irrigation fluids, or forced-air warming on perioperative patients to maintain their core temperature during the perioperative experience. Results of the project showed that 75% of patients who received forced-air warming perioperatively had temperatures that reached or were maintained at 36° C (96.8° F) or higher within 15 minutes after leaving the OR.

The effectiveness of the newly designed thermal gown on hypothermic patients after spinal surgery

“…, Lynch et al . ). Paulikas () pointed out that a slight drop in body temperature (0·05–1·5 °C) has been shown to trigger hypertension, which increases the serum concentrations of adrenaline.…”

“…The relative humidity should be no <50%, which may reduce bacterial growth and static discharges (Yan 2010). According to some studies, about 50-90% of surgical patients in the USA each year experienced postoperative hypothermia in the recovery room due to environmental factors, such as operating room conditions and anaesthesia conditions (Lynch et al 2010).…”

“…Different medical treatments influence a patient's body temperature, such as a cold intravenous (IV) transfusion, surgical site exposure and a decreased basal metabolic rate caused by anaesthesia (Good et al 2006, Lynch et al 2010. Paulikas (2008) pointed out that a slight drop in body temperature (0Á05-1Á5°C) has been shown to trigger hypertension, which increases the serum concentrations of adrenaline.…”

A systematic review on the effectiveness of prewarming to prevent perioperative hypothermia

“…It is also essential to plan effective interventions that minimise or make it possible to prevent complications arising from surgical anaesthesia, with a view to patient safety, which is the main goal of perioperative nursing (Beyea , Lynch et al . ).…”

“…Understanding hypothermia, its complications and effective prevention measures in the perioperative period is fundamental for nurses who want to apply evidence-based practice in clinical practice. It is also essential to plan effective interventions that minimise or make it possible to prevent complications arising from surgical anaesthesia, with a view to patient safety, which is the main goal of perioperative nursing (Beyea 2008, Lynch et al 2010.…”