Effects of Transport on Oral Temperature of Postsurgical Patients Transported from PACU to Nursing Units.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of transport from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) to inpatient nursing units on postsurgical patient temperature.

DESIGN

Exploratory correlational study.

METHODS

PACU discharge oral temperatures of postsurgical adult patients were compared with oral temperature at unit transfer.

FINDINGS: Temperatures on PACU discharge ranged from 97.3°F to 100.0°F (mean [M], 98.1 [0.5]), whereas those on unit arrival ranged from 97.3°F to 99.8°F (M, 98.0 [0.5]). Temperature differences between arrival and discharge ranged from -1.5°F to 0.9°F (M, -0.05 [0.34]); most showed decreases (n = 49; 52.7%). Correlations between temperature change and other variables (transport time, age, and gender) were less than 0.10 and nonsignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

Transfers from the PACU to other hospital units may not clinically impact oral temperatures in postsurgical patients. However, post-transfer temperature should be monitored to assure that hypothermia does not occur.