Perioperative Heat Conservation: Use of the Reflective Blanket, Leggings, and Head Cover on the Surgical Patient
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of the reflective blanket, leggings, and head covering had an impact on the mean temperature of the patient who received surgery under regional block anesthesia (subarachnoid/epidural). Furthermore, this study was to determine if these nursing interventions impacted upon the length of patient's stay in the postanesthesia care unit. Man is a homeotherm which means that he must maintain a core body temperature within narrow limits despite wide variations in ambient temperature. During surgery, patients are subjected to conditions that place them at risk for lowered body temperature (hypothermia). The anesthetic agents block the sympathetic nervous system, not only blocking pain, but virtually eliminating the primary contributor of heat production, muscle movement. Heat loss occurs in four ways: radiation (from the body surface to the air), conduction (from direct contact with cooler substances), convection (from the movement of air), and evaporation (from the lungs and skin). Each manner in which heat is lost appears accelerated in the surgical patient. Examples are lack of covering, fluids administered at room temperature, high rates of room air flow, and scrubbing of the surgical site with volatile solutions. Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA224578
Entities
People
- Michael E. Russell
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology