Effectiveness of Hypothermia Prevention Protocol among Patients Subjected to Major Surgeries at KMCH, Coimbatore

Hypothermia is a significant risk factor for perioperative complications. Whatever method is used for maintaining or promoting normothermia, first and foremost, it should be remembered that careful and thoughtful actions directed at maintaining normothermia can significantly affect the course of the patient’s perioperatative experience. With this focus the present study entitled “Effectiveness of hypothermia prevention protocol among patients subjected to major surgeries at KMCH”. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to,assess the incidence and extent of hypothermia among patients subjected to major surgeries, to determine the effectiveness of hypothermia prevention protocol among patients subjected to major surgeries and to associate the demographic variables, clinical variables and risk factors of hypothermia with core body temperature among patients subjected to major surgeries. METHODOLOGY: The methodology adopted for this study was a Quasi experimental one group pre test and post test design. Modified Ludwig Von Beralanffy’s (1968) general system theory was applied. Data was collected for six weeks period of time after obtaining ethical clearance from concerned authorities. The basic characteristic such as Demographic variables, Clinical variables, risk factors of & signs and symptoms of hypothermia were collected. The core body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and SPO2 were monitored and in time sequences of every 30 minutes on arrival in and transfer out from holding area, OT and PACU. Hypothermia prevention management strategies (active and passive warming as per core body temperature) were implemented and it was observed by using Hypothermia prevention protocol checklist by the investigator. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The repeated measures ANOVA of core body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and SPO2 over a period of time revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of core body temperature heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and SPO2 measured at various time periods in perioperative period at the level of p<.05. The average of duration of stay in OT among majority 90% (n=45) of patients was varied greatly from 2 hrs 30 minutes to a maximum of upto 4 hrs 40 minutes. 52% (n=26) were stayed >2 hours in the PACU. (n=29) 58% & 70% (n=35) had IV fluid administration of 500ml to 2 liters intraoperatively and in PACU respectively. 30% (n=15) had blood loss above 200 ml. 3 (6%) received blood transfusion during surgery, 2 (4%) received blood transfusion in the PACU. There is a statistically significant association between core body temperature and duration of stay, and the type of surgical procedures and elderly age group at p