Abstract
Hypothermia is defined as core body temperature less than 36 oC. Maintaining intraoperative normothermia is likely to decrease the incidence of complications and thermal discomfort in patients, and to shorten their length of stay in hospital.
Major consequences of inadvertent hypothermia include adverse myocardial events, reduced resistance to surgical wound infection, impaired coagulation, delayed recovery and postoperative shivering. Efforts to maintain intraoperative body core temperature higher than 36 oC will prevent significant complications, improving the quality and safety of anaesthesia care for patients.
The therapeutic target is to achieve comfortable temperature of the patient (between 36.5 oC and 37.5 oC). Induction of anaesthesia should not begin unless the patient's temperature is 36.0 oC or above.
The choice of optimal warming device depends on the type of surgery, patient risk profile and patient preoperative temperature. It is recommended to measure body temperature in the majority of procedures.
The site of measurement is also important. The intervention phase is defined as the last hour before induction of anaesthesia through to 24 hours after entering the recovery area.