Risk factors for development of intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing thoracic surgery

Abstract

Objective To identify the risk factors for the development of intraoperative hypothermia in the patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Methods One hundred twenty patients of both sexes, aged 23-83 yr, weighing 43-92 kg, of ASA physical statusⅠorⅡ, scheduled for elective thoracic surgery, who had an expected surgical duration of more than 2 h, with the core body temperature of 36.0-37.5 ℃, were included.After admission to the operating room, the core body temperature was measured.Intraoperative nasopharyngeal temperature of lower than 36 ℃ was defined as hypothermia.The patients were randomly divided into hypothermia group or non-hypothermia group according to whether or not intraoperative hypothermia occurred.Factors including the patient characteristics, the total amount of fluid infused(including the volume of blood transfused), duration and way of anesthesia and duration and type of surgery were recorded.The risk factors associated with intraoperative hypothermia were identified by logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 94 patients developed hypothermia during surgery, and the incidence of hypothermia was 78.3%.The lowest body temperature was 33.6 ℃.There was significant difference between the two groups in age, duration of surgery, the total amount of fluid infused, and the body temperature when patients were admitted to the operating room.Logistic regression analysis revealed that the total amount of fluid infused>2 000 ml(OR=3.499)and low body temperature when patients were admitted to the operating room(OR=0.074)were independent risk factors for intraoperative hypothermia in the patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Conclusion The total amount of intravenous fluid infused>2 000 ml and low body temperature when patients were admitted to the operating room are independent risk factors in the patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Key words: Hypothermia; Risk factors; Thoracic surgical procedures; Intraoperative complications