[Prevention of Perioperative Hypothermia - Guidelines for Daily Clinical Practice]

Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2017 Jul;52(7-08):554-562. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-103653. Epub 2017 Jul 25.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (body core temperature < 36 °C) is a serious complication leading to increased rates of wound infection, higher blood loss associated with increased transfusion requirements as well as patient dissatisfaction among others. Body core temperature is a vital parameter and needs constant monitoring just like heart rate, blood pressure and arterial oxygen saturation. Patient-, anesthesia-, surgery- and environment-related risk factors were identified for occurring perioperative hypothermia.The avoidance of perioperative hypothermia requires a multidisciplinary approach for both medical and assistant staff. A bundle of procedures has to be arranged in order to improve patient outcome. Steps include general (e.g. staff instruction), pre- (e.g. prewarming), intra- (e.g. active warming) and postoperative (e.g. drug therapy) actions. An effective concept for prevention of perioperative hypothermia has to be adjusted to departments' specific constructional, organizational, process-related and staff characteristics with clearly visible and assigned responsibilities.

Die unbeabsichtigte perioperative Hypothermie (Körperkerntemperatur < 36 °C) ist ein potenziell komplikationsträchtiges, schwerwiegendes Ereignis: Sie führt zu einer erhöhten Inzidenz an Wundinfektionen und vermehrten Blutverlusten/Transfusionsbedarf. Dieser Beitrag thematisiert die praktische Umsetzung der AWMF-S3-Leitlinie „Vermeidung von perioperativer Hypothermie“ von 2014 1. Er soll als Leitfaden für die tägliche klinische Arbeit dienen.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Hypothermia / etiology
  • Hypothermia / prevention & control
  • Hypothermia / therapy*
  • Intraoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Intraoperative Complications / therapy
  • Patient Care Team
  • Perioperative Care / methods*
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy
  • Rewarming / methods
  • Risk Factors