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Updated: May 28, 2026
06:43
Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
Published on: November 21, 2017
Core temperature falls during laparotomy in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.
1Institute of Child Health, Surgery Unit, London, UK.
Summary
Infants undergoing surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) experience significant drops in body temperature. Lower intraoperative temperatures correlated with increased blood transfusion needs, highlighting a critical factor in surgical outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neonatal Care
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Intraoperative hypothermia poses risks, especially for preterm infants undergoing surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
- Maintaining normothermia is crucial for optimizing clinical outcomes in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between intraoperative temperature and clinical outcomes in infants with NEC.
- To determine the relationship between intraoperative temperature and morbidity, including fluid/blood product requirements and postoperative status.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 82 laparotomies for NEC (69 infants) between 2008 and 2011.
- Analysis of intraoperative temperature, fluid and blood product requirements, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, and mortality.
- Statistical comparison using paired t-test and regression analysis.
Main Results:
- A significant drop in core body temperature occurred during laparotomy for NEC (perioperative 34.9°C vs. preoperative 37.0°C).
- Lower intraoperative temperatures were significantly associated with increased intraoperative blood transfusion requirements (p=0.01).
- No significant relationships were found between intraoperative temperature and other morbidities or outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Laparotomy for NEC is associated with a substantial intraoperative temperature decrease.
- The impact of this intraoperative hypothermia on short-term and long-term infant outcomes requires further investigation.
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