Postoperative management of anaesthesia-associated hypothermia with a forced-air convective warming device.
Date
1997
Authors
Jackson, Stephanie Ana Maria.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
This study investigated the postoperative management of hypothermia of
intraoperative origin using a forced-air convective warming device.
Hypothermia develops during the intraoperative period partly as a result of
disordered thermoregulation induced by anaesthesia and partly because of the
nature of the operational injury and the surgical environment. Both the
hypothermic state and the consequences of physiological attempts to return
the core temperature to normal, which take place during the postoperative
period, are associated with non-beneficial effects. Attempts to prevent
intraoperative decline in core temperature are a part of anaesthesia
management. However, most of the traditional options available are inefficient
or ineffective, particularly in adults. This study evaluated the performance of
a new device, the forced-air convective warmer, in the management of the
postoperative hypothermic state. Results showed that when compared to a
hypothermic control group the device made a significant difference to the
thermal state of a group of hypothermic postoperative patients but only if it
was used for at least two hours postoperation.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirements tor the degree of
Master of Medicine (Anaesthesia)
in the
Department of Anaesthesla
University of the Witwatersrand
Keywords
Hypothermia., Postoperative Complications.