Simpson J, et al. - The prime focus of this study was perioperative hypothermia (PH) in total joint arthroplasty. Based on findings, it was concluded that the risk of hypothermia in total joint replacement patients could be attenuated by laying emphasis on preoperative holding, time from OR entry to incision and ambient room temperature.

Methods

• Researchers performed a retrospective review of 204 patients undergoing primary hip and 179 undergoing primary knee replacement surgery.
• They collected time and temperature parameters from the electronic health records (EHR) from preoperative and postoperative recovery room nursing assessments, intraoperative anesthesia records and floor nursing notes.
• Furthermore, they recorded basic patient demographic data.
• Using Chi squared and paired t-tests, they compared between hypothermic and normothermic groups.

Results

• Findings revealed that at the time of incision, hypothermia was evident in 60 of 179 (34%) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients and 80 of 204 (39%) total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients.
• Researchers found that in THA patients, 65% remained hypothermic for the duration of anesthesia compared to 33% of TKA patients.
• Data showed that, in both THA and TKA patients, the largest drop in core body temperature occurred between preoperative holding to the induction of anesthesia.
• Results demonstrated that spinal anesthesia had a significantly higher occurrence of PH in THA patients.
• In addition, no significant patient factor was found to increase risks.