Temperature management under general anesthesia: Compulsion or option

Barkha Bindu, Ashish Bindra, Girija Rath, Barkha Bindu, Ashish Bindra, Girija Rath

Abstract

Administration of general anesthesia requires continuous monitoring of vital parameters of the body including body temperature. However, temperature continues to be one of the least seriously monitored parameters perioperatively. Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is a relatively common occurrence with both general and regional anesthesia and can have significant adverse impact on patients' outcome. While guidelines for perioperative temperature management have been proposed, there are no specific guidelines regarding the best site or best modality of temperature monitoring and management intraoperatively. Various warming and cooling devices are available which help maintain perioperative normothermia. This article discusses the physiology of thermoregulation, effects of anesthesia on thermoregulation, various temperature monitoring sites and methods, perioperative warming devices, guidelines for perioperative temperature management and inadvertent temperature complications (hypothermia/hyperthermia) and measures to control it in the operating room.

Keywords: Hyperthermia; hypothermia; inadvertent; intraoperative; temperature; thermoregulation.

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of body heat
Figure 2
Figure 2
Physiology of thermoregulation
Figure 3
Figure 3
Different temperature thresholds under normal physiological conditions
Figure 4
Figure 4
Different temperature thresholds under anesthesia
Figure 5
Figure 5
Interthreshold range under normal physiological conditions and under anesthesia
Figure 6
Figure 6
Sites for temperature monitoring
Figure 7
Figure 7
Heat loss mechanisms under anesthesia
Figure 8
Figure 8
Phases of hypothermia under general anesthesia

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