Perioperative Hypothermia—A Narrative Review

Simon Rauch, Clemens Miller, Anselm Bräuer, Bernd Wallner, Matthias Bock and Peter Paal
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Simon Rauch: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, “F. Tappeiner” Hospital, 39012 Merano, Italy
Clemens Miller: Department of Anaesthesiology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
Anselm Bräuer: Department of Anaesthesiology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
Bernd Wallner: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Matthias Bock: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, “F. Tappeiner” Hospital, 39012 Merano, Italy
Peter Paal: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hospitallers Brothers Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5010 Salzburg, Austria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: Unintentional hypothermia (core temperature < 36 °C) is a common side effect in patients undergoing surgery. Several patient-centred and external factors, e.g., drugs, comorbidities, trauma, environmental temperature, type of anaesthesia, as well as extent and duration of surgery, influence core temperature. Perioperative hypothermia has negative effects on coagulation, blood loss and transfusion requirements, metabolization of drugs, surgical site infections, and discharge from the post-anaesthesia care unit. Therefore, active temperature management is required in the pre-, intra-, and postoperative period to diminish the risks of perioperative hypothermia. Temperature measurement should be done with accurate and continuous probes. Perioperative temperature management includes a bundle of warming tools adapted to individual needs and local circumstances. Warming blankets and mattresses as well as the administration of properly warmed infusions via dedicated devices are important for this purpose. Temperature management should follow checklists and be individualized to the patient’s requirements and the local possibilities.

Keywords: hypothermia; perioperative hypothermia; body temperature regulation; perioperative care; quality of care; surgery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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