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Heat loss in an animal experimental model
M J English1, R Papenberg, E Farias
1Department of Anaesthesia, Montreal General Hospital, Quebec, Canada.
The Journal of Trauma
|January 1, 1991
Summary
During surgery, skin insulation significantly reduces heat loss and hypothermia risk. Covering exposed bowels with plastic minimizes evaporative heat loss from the abdominal cavity.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Physiology
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Hypothermia is a common complication during surgical procedures, especially when body cavities are opened.
- Maintaining intraoperative normothermia is critical for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary site of heat loss during open abdominal surgery.
- To quantify heat loss from the skin versus the exposed abdominal cavity.
- To inform strategies for preventing surgical hypothermia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized heat flux transducers to measure heat loss from skin and exposed abdominal cavity in seven pigs.
- Calculated heat loss per unit area and total heat loss from both surfaces.
- Assessed the relative contribution of skin and abdominal cavity to overall heat loss.
Main Results:
- Heat loss from the skin was 74 W/m², while from the abdominal cavity it was 350 W/m².
- Despite a larger surface area, skin accounted for 74% of total heat loss.
- Evaporation was the predominant source of heat loss from the abdominal cavity.
Conclusions:
- Skin insulation is the primary determinant of overall heat loss during open abdominal surgery.
- Minimizing evaporative losses from exposed viscera, e.g., by using plastic barriers, can reduce hypothermia.
- Strategies focusing on skin insulation and reducing evaporation are crucial for preventing surgical hypothermia.