Inadvertent hypothermia in the OR

Hypothermia is one of the most common problems that patients experience in the perioperative environment. Hypothermia causes more problems for the patient than the mere unpleasant experience of feeling cold. Additional nursing interventions are required for a patient suffering from inadvertent hypothermia, which often delays the patient's discharge from the perioperative setting. Many of the nursing interventions that are successful in preventing hypothermia and restoring body heat to surgical patients, such as applying a warmed blanket to a patient's body, seem straightforward. Understanding the cause and effects of inadvertent hypothermia, however, is essential in recognizing it and implementing the most effective nursing interventions.