The related factors and countermeasures of hypothermia in patients during the anesthesia recovery period.

objectiveThis research aims to explore and analyze the risk factors that lead to hypothermia in patients in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and to investigate the heat preservation effects of the various heat preservation measures.

methodsA total of 224 patients who entered the PACU from February 2018 to October 2018 after anesthesia surgery in our hospital were recruited as the research cohort. Among them, 46 had hypothermia and 178 did not. The patients' general and surgical data were recorded, and the risk factors for hypothermia in the PACU patients were analyzed using logistic regression. Another 68 hypothermia patients admitted to the PACU in our hospital were also recruited for this study. The patients in the routine group (RG) were insulated using quilts, while those in the observation group (OG) were insulated using inflatable warming blankets. The heat preservation effects of the two heat preservation methods on the PACU patients were compared.

resultsAge >60 years old, an intraoperative infusion volume >1500 ml, an intraoperative blood loss >300 ml, major surgery, and an operation time >2 h were the risk factors for hypothermia in the PACU patients. The heat preservation times, the PACU retention times, and the patients' awake times in the OG were shorter than they were in the RG, and the incidence of complications related to hypothermia in the OG was lower than it was in the RG. In addition, the degree of satisfaction in the OG was higher than it was in the RG.

conclusionAge >60 years old, an intraoperative infusion volume >1500 ml, an intraoperative blood loss >300 ml, major surgery, and an operation time >2 h are risk factors for hypothermia in PACU patients. Inflatable warming blankets have a better heat preservation effect and bring higher patient satisfaction than traditional quilts.