Newborns Are Prone To More Hypothermic In The Low Temperature Of Operating Rooms

INTRODUCTION: Hypothermia is a common and serious problem during anesthesia. Because the ratio of skin surface area to body volume is higher in neonates than in adults, heat loss and ultimately hypothermia are more common in the intraoperative period. This study aims to determine the incidence and independent risk factors of hypothermia in the neonatal period.
METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study included 63 patients who underwent neonatal surgery within one year. Hypothermia (HT) was defined as body temperature <36 °C and patients were divided into two groups: Group I (body temperature ˂36°C) and Group II (≥36°C). Demographic data, ASA score, operative diagnosis, duration of surgery and anesthesia, amount of fluid, inotrope and vasopressor therapy, amount of bleeding, amount of blood transfusion, preoperative and postoperative temperature, and heating methods of the patients were recorded.
RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 5 days (0-28 days) and their mean weight was 2792±782 grams. The esophageal method was used for temperature monitoring in 88.9% (56 patients) and the rectal method in 10.1% (7 patients). Hypothermia developed in 54% of all patients. Caps and socks were used to prevent hypothermia in 96.8% of patients, forced-air warming blankets in 95.2%, warming gel mattresses in 27%, and fluid and blood warming devices in 17.5%. In the logistic regression model, only operating room temperature was identified as an independent risk factor associated with neonatal hypothermia.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Despite the use of active and passive warming methods, the incidence of hypothermia in the neonatal period was found to be high. Cold operating rooms were found to be the only independent factor associated with neonatal hypothermia.