The Patient
Unit 6: Intraoperative Considerations
Topic 2: Maintenance of Body Temperature
Loss of body heat will always occur during surgery, however the bodies thermoregulatory mechanisms (shivering, vasoconstriction and behavioural changes) are suppressed by the anaesthetic and significant hypothermia may result.
This may be exacerbated by the body mass of the animal, the ambient temperature, contact with a cold surface on the surgery table and procedures which involve opening major body cavities (eg. the abdomen and thorax).
Small animals are at particular risk due to their larger surface area to volume ratio relative to larger animals, and less body fat.
Measures should be taken to try and avoid this loss of body heat including:
- The use of heating pads or heated operating tables even in short and routine procedures.
Ensure that the thermostat of the heating pad is functioning normally or severe burns may occur. - The use of insulation blankets can be useful in reducing heat loss from areas of the body outside of the surgical field.
- Hot packs and hot water bottles can be used, but with care
- Warm air circulating blankets are produced by a number of companies and are very useful in maintaining body warmth.
- Warm (body temperature) fluids should be used in lavaging tissues.
Warmed intravenous fluids can also be useful especially in small animals. - Avoid prolonged surgery.
Murison P. (2001) Prevention and treatment of perioperative hypothermia in animals under 5kg bodyweight. In Practice July-August: 415-418.
