Chapter 40
- Temperature Monitoring
- Daniel I. Sessler
Introduction
Mammals and birds are homeothermic; that is, they require a nearly
constant internal body temperature. When internal temperature deviates significantly
from normal, metabolic functions usually deteriorate, and death may result. The
thermoregulatory system usually maintains core body temperature within 0.2°C
of "normal," which is about 37°C in humans. Anesthetic-induced inhibition of
thermoregulation combines with exposure to a cold operating room environment to make
most unwarmed patients hypothermic.
In recent years, major outcome studies have shown that mild hypothermia
(≅1°C to 2°C) (1) triples the incidence of morbid cardiac outcomes, (2)
triples the incidence of surgical wound infections and prolongs hospitalization by
20%, and (3) significantly increases surgical blood loss and the need for allogeneic
transfusion. An understanding of normal and anesthetic-influenced thermoregulation
will facilitate prevention and management
of these and numerous other temperature-related complications.
