hypothermia

Perioperative hypothermia:

The combination of anaesthetic-induced impairment of thermoregulatory control and exposure to cool environments, such as the holding, operating theatre and recovery, makes most surgical patients hypothermic. Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature drops below 36ºC (96,8º F).

Effects:

Perioperative hypothermia can have a wide range of detrimental effects. These include increased rate of wound infection, blood loss, morbid cardiac events and prolonged length of stay in the recovery.