Effect of Three Different Methods in Rewarming Hypothermic Postoperative Patients

Abstract

Hypothermia refers to core body temperature less than 36C. It was reported that 60 to 80% of all postoperative patients suffered from hypothermia. Hypothermia has a profound effect on every body system and may result in life threatening problems if not recognised and treated promptly. The nurse has an important role in rewarming surgical patients immediately postoperatively. Many researchers found that there are different methods to warm surgical patients immediately postoperatively as radiation using infrared lamps, forced air warmer, and warmed blanket. Aim: Comparing between three different nursing methods in rewarming patients after major abdominal surgery. Method: The study was carried out in surgical wards and recovery rooms at Alexandria Main University Hospital. A convenient sample of 60 adult patients was selected and assigned randomly to one of three experimental warming methods. Group I was assigned to extra blanket, group II was assigned to radiation, and group III was assigned to forced air warmer. In postoperative period, all patients in the three different groups were assessed every 5 minutes for core body temperature using tympanic thermometer until return to baseline temperature. Results: The study revealed that the patients warmed with forced air warmer returned to baseline temperature in a shorter period than those who were warmed by the use of radiation or extra blanket. Statistically significant difference was found between the three groups. Conclusion: Rewarming is a priority in the immediate care of postoperative surgical patients because hypothermia may augment the risk of adverse outcome. Therefore, the importance of the use of forced air warmer, radiation using infrared heat lamps, or extra blanket should be emphasised in the postoperative period.