Hypothermia in patients during the perioperative period

• Published in: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P 2012-02, Vol.46 (1), p.60
• Main Authors: De Mattia, Ana Lúcia, Barbosa, Maria Helena, De Mattia Rocha, Adelaide, Farias, Hisa Lisboa, Santos, Cíntia Alves, Santos, Danielle Meneses
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anesthesia Recovery Period; Female; Humans; Hypothermia - diagnosis; Hypothermia - epidemiology; Hypothermia - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0080-6234
• DOI: 10.1590/S0080-62342012000100008

The objective of this study was to identify the factors that trigger hypothermia in patients in surgery, and the manifestations in the anesthesia recovery room. This study was performed in a large hospital of the City of Santos hospital network. Data were collected from 30 adult patients, whose body temperature when entering the surgical suite was between 36ºC and 37.2ºC, who underwent elective procedures and received general anesthesia. Results show that the most common methods used to prevent hypothermia were infusing warmed intravenous fluids and using a thermal blanket. From the moment the patient left the surgical suite until 30 minutes post-recovery in the anesthesia recovery room, patients remained hypothermic. Hypothermia was manifested by hypoxemia and shivering. In this study, it was shown that hypothermia in patients is triggered while in the surgical suite due to the lack of appropriate preventive measures, leading to complications in the anesthesia recovery period.