Decreased incidence of perioperative inadvertent hypothermia and faster anesthesia recovery with increased environmental temperature: A nonrandomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine perioperative inadvertent hypothermia (PIH) incidence, risk factors, prevention methods, and effect of PIH prevention on anesthesia recovery times.

STUDY

DESIGN

Nonrandomized controlled before-and-after trial.

ANIMALS: Dogs (n = 277) and cats (n = 20) undergoing open surgery.

METHODS

Incidence and risk factors for PIH (core temperature <96.8°F), existing thermal care practices, and recovery times were documented at baseline. For group 1, a thermal care bundle consisting of protocol-driven active warming combined with raised environmental temperatures (75°F) in induction rooms (IR) and operating rooms (OR) was implemented. Perioperative inadvertent hypothermia incidence and recovery times were recorded. For group 2, baseline active warming practices were resumed while environmental temperatures remained elevated.

RESULTS

Perioperative inadvertent hypothermia was associated with preoperative imaging (P = .039) and percentage clip area (P = .037). Perioperative inadvertent hypothermia decreased in group 1 (13.5%, n = 96, P < .001) and group 2 (13.0%, n = 100, P < .001) compared with baseline (35.6%, n = 101). Median time from anesthesia withdrawal to extubation decreased in group 1 (5 minutes, P = .028) and group 2 (5 minutes, P = .018) compared with baseline (7 minutes). Median time from anesthesia recovery to spontaneous food intake decreased in group 1 (6 hours, n = 92, P = .016) but not in group 2 (6.0 hours, n = 88, P = .060) compared with baseline (n = 94, 6.7 hours). No group differences in PIH risk factors were identified.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative inadvertent hypothermia incidence was high but reducible by raising environmental temperatures alone or in combination with increased focus on active warming. Reductions in PIH shortened recovery times.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Maintaining IR and OR temperatures at the standard-of-care for human pediatric surgery reduces PIH and may improve outcomes.