ArticlePloS one2023
Higher operating theatre temperature during burn surgery increases physiological heat strain, subjective workload, and fatigue of surgical staff.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Prevalence of operating room occupational health cluster: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Impact of environmental factors on operative team performance: systematic review and guidance for optimising clinical practice.Surgical endoscopy · 2025Pooled it
- [Anesthesiological management of adults with major burn injuries].Die Anaesthesiologie · 2026Review
- Evaluation of X-ray Personal protective equipment for Orthopaedic Surgeons in theatrE (EXPOSEd) study : a national survey of Trauma & Orthopaedic surgeons.Bone & joint open · 2025Article
- Integrating safety culture, environment, and sensory perceptions in the operating room: a narrative review.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2025Review
- Evolution of Learning Styles in Surgery Comparing Residents and Teachers: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR medical education · 2025Article
- Effect of cold and warm water ingestion on physiological and performance parameters during simulated hot burn surgeries.Temperature (Austin, Tex.) · 2025Article
- A time-stratified, case-crossover study of heat exposure and perinatal mortality from 16 hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.Nature medicine · 2024Article
- Living in Western Australia induces some physiological adaptations of seasonal acclimatisation in the surgical burns team.Temperature (Austin, Tex.) · 2024Article
- Impact of Heat and Mitigation Strategies on Healthcare Professionals: A Scoping Review.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Raising the ambient temperature of the operating theatre is common practice during burn surgeries to maintain the patient's core body temperature; however, the effects of operating in the heat on cognitive performance, manual dexterity, and perceived workload of surgical staff have not been assessed in a real-world context. Therefore, the aim was to assess the real-time impact of heat during burn surgeries on staff's cognitive function, manual dexterity, and perceptual measures (workload, thermal sensation, thermal comfort, perceived exertion, and fatigue) and physiological parameters (core temperature, heart-rate, fluid loss, and dehydration). Ten burn surgery staff members were assessed in CON (24.0±1.1°C, 45±6% relative humidity [RH]) and HOT (30.8±1.6°C, 39±7% RH) burn surgeries (average 150 min duration). Cognitive performance, manual dexterity, and perceptual measures were recorded pre- and post-surgery, while physiological parameters were recorded throughout surgery. HOT conditions did not significantly affect manual dexterity or cognitive function (p > .05), however HOT resulted in heat strain (increased heart-rate, core temperature, and fluid loss: p < .05), and increased subjective workload, discomfort, perceived exertion, and fatigue compared to CON conditions (p < .05). Cognitive function and manual dexterity were maintained in hot conditions, suggesting that operating in approximately 31°C heat is a safe approach for patient treatment. However, job burnout, which is positively correlated with perceived workload, and the impact of cumulative fatigue on the mental health of surgery staff, must be considered in the context of supporting an effective health workforce.
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