Patient warming in surgery and the enhanced recovery

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Surgical Patient Care
• Public Health

Background:

• Perioperative hypothermia is a preventable complication linked to adverse patient outcomes.
• The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for managing perioperative temperature.
• Maintaining normothermia is vital for surgical recovery, as recognized by the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the risks of perioperative hypothermia at different surgical stages.
• To disseminate current NICE recommendations for preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia.
• To explore the synergy between NICE guidelines and ERAS for enhanced patient recovery.

Main Methods:

• Review of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline 65 (2008) and subsequent updates.
• Analysis of the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) program's principles regarding perioperative normothermia.
• Synthesis of recommendations for patient and healthcare professional collaboration.

Main Results:

• NICE guidelines offer comprehensive strategies for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative hypothermia prevention.
• The ERAS program emphasizes patient warming as a cornerstone for accelerated recovery.
• Collaboration between patients and health professionals is key to implementing NICE recommendations effectively.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to NICE guidelines and integration with ERAS principles significantly improve patient outcomes by preventing perioperative hypothermia.
• Proactive management of patient temperature throughout the surgical journey is essential for optimal recovery.
• A collaborative approach ensures successful implementation of hypothermia prevention strategies.