Preoperative factors affecting the intraoperative core body temperature in elective hysterectomy under general anesthesia

Abstract

Background: Hypothermia is common in patients undergoing anesthesia surgery and it may increase the potential risk of post-operative complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the intraoperative factors that affect the core temperature of women after hysterectomy. Materials and Methods: One hundred and four female patients aged 18 and older, who were treated with elective open hysterectomy, were studied. The authors evaluated the incidence of hypothermia with respect to demographics, clinical, and anesthesia characteristics in two patients groups (hypothermic vs. normothermic). Results: The incidence of intraoperative hypothermia was 53.8. Advanced age (OR=6.449; 95% CI 3.603-14.397, p < 0.001), higher BMI (OR=5.879; 95% CI 5.122-7.325), higher intraoperative core body temperature (OR=0.483; 95% CI 0.432-0.578), large surgeries (OR=4.149; 95% CI 3.549-5.881, p < 0.001), and the number of opioids (OR=0.199; 95% CI 0.084-0.428) were found to be the most important predictors for hypothermia intraoperatively. There was significant statistical difference between the two groups with respect to American Society of Anaesthesiologists’ (ASA) score, induction to anesthesia with propofol and sevoflurane, and the administration of muscle relaxants perioperatively. Conclusions: The application of an appropriate, simple, and low-cost heating method, either by administrating warmed intravenous fluids or using an air-heating flow device, can help to prevent surgical patients’ hypothermia and its possible dangerous complications.