The effect of hypothermia on coagulation and its implications for infiltration in lipoplasty: A review

Abstract

Guidelines issued by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and other professional organizations have helped to reduce complications associated with lipoplasty. However, current guidelines for lipoplasty do not address the issue of hypothermia, which can be aggravated by infiltration of large amounts of anesthetic vasoconstrictive solution. In this article, we review the mechanisms of hemostasis and the pathophysiology of hypothermia and suggest measures by which to minimize the effect of hypothermia on coagulation during and after lipoplasty.