ASPAN's Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for the Promotion of Perioperative Normothermia

Hypothermia Frequency of Patients in the Postoperative Period

“…Systems which blow hot air, electric blankets, radiant heaters, intravenous liquid and blood product heaters, filters that change the temperature values, and heating techniques with negative pressure may be used to heat the patients [14]. General methods that will increase the room temperature in our operating theater are not accepted due to some reasons such as; these methods may decrease the working performance of the surgery team, pollute the room with the perspiration of the surgery team, and due to the possibility of leading to infection.…”

Evidence-Based Practice Habits: Putting More Sacred Cows Out to Pasture

“…144 The most accurate core temperature is obtained via a pulmonary artery catheter; although infrequently used, this method is considered the "gold standard." 143,144,[146][147][148][149] Table 14 provides the evidence on which sites are used for core and near-core temperature measurements.…”

“…Researchers comparing body temperature measured with various devices and methods with core temperatures considered the temperature device to be accurate if the mean difference in temperatures obtained was ±0.3ºC and to be precise if the standard deviation was from 0.3ºC to 0.5ºC. 144,147,149,150 A mean difference in temperature greater than 0.5ºC between devices would represent a clinically significant difference. 147 It is unclear whether critical care nurses in clinical practice differentiate the accepted difference in temperature measurements obtained with different devices and how the clinical interpretation of the measurement plays into subsequent clinical decisions.…”

“…143,144,148 Temperature monitoring devices require accurate application to provide intended measurement data; however, user error causes erroneous temperature measurements. 143,147 Device limitations + Research has shown that administration of warmed gases and oxygen through an endotracheal tube does not cause significantly different oral temperature compared with core temperature 153,155 -Accurate placement of probe in the mouth (posterior sublingual pocket) is necessary for correct temperature reading 143,146,147,149 -May be influenced by fluids and tachypnea 156 + Correlates closely with pulmonary artery temperature. 144,147,150 Optimal placement requires the esophageal temperature probe to be positioned at the point of maximal heart tones (left atrium) in the distal part of the esophagus 144,146 and at an insertion depth between 32 and 38 cm.…”

“…156,158 -Tested in multiple populations of patients; however, user error and patient's anatomy reduce accuracy of temperature obtained. 143,144,[147][148][149] Variation from core temperature a Based on evidence from Hooper and Andrews, 143 Sessler, 144 Crawford et al, 145 Torossian, 146 Forbes et al, 147 Bridges and Thomas, 148 Hooper et al, 149 Polderman and Herold, 150 O'Grady et al, 151 Exacon Scientific, 152 Konopad et al, 153 and Fallis.…”