Description

Kleimeyer et al identified risk factors for postoperative hypothermia in a patient undergoing orthopedic surgery. A patient at increased risk may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are fro Standord University, the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.


Patient selection: orthopedic surgery

 

Outcome: postoperative hypothermia (< 36.0 °C)

 

Risk factors for postoperative hypothermia:

(1) intraoperative hypotherrmia (odds ratio 2.7)

(2) low body mass index (BMI; odds ratio 1.06 per kg per square meter)

(3) older age (odds ratio 1.02 per year; age > 85 years)

(4) adult reconstruction (odds ratio 4.1)

(5) hip and pelvis procedures such as hip fracture (odds ratio 8.8)

 

where:

The mean BMI was 27.9 kg per square meter.

 

Additional risk factors:

(1) female sex (odds ratio 1.4)

(2) lower preoperative temperature (odds ratio 1.5)


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