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The effect of body mass index on perioperative thermoregulation

Ayşe Belin Özer1, Aysun Yildiz Altun1, Ömer Lütfi Erhan1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Firat University Medical School, Elaziğ.

Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
|December 7, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Obese patients undergoing surgery maintain core body temperature better under anesthesia. Higher body mass index (BMI) in patients delays vasoconstriction, reducing anesthesia's negative thermoregulation effects.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Physiology
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Thermoregulation is critical during anesthesia.
  • Obesity presents unique physiological challenges.
  • Understanding body mass index (BMI) effects on thermoregulation is vital for surgical patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on thermoregulation in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.
  • To assess how different BMI categories influence core body temperature during anesthesia.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty patients were classified into four BMI groups (<24.9, 25-39.9, 40-49.9, >50).
  • Tympanic and peripheral temperatures were recorded every 5 minutes during anesthesia.
  • Mean skin temperature (MST), mean body temperature (MBT), and vasoconstriction parameters were calculated.

Main Results:

  • Higher BMI groups showed significantly different tympanic temperatures at various time points compared to the normal BMI group.
  • No significant differences were observed in mean skin temperature (MST) or mean body temperature (MBT) across BMI groups.
  • Vasoconstriction onset was delayed, and the vasoconstriction threshold was higher in patients with increased BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Obese patients exhibit better core temperature protection under anesthesia compared to non-obese individuals.
  • Obesity appears to mitigate some negative thermoregulatory effects of anesthesia.
  • Findings suggest BMI is a significant factor in perioperative thermoregulation management.
Abstract

Keywords:
anesthesiabody mass indexobesitythermogenesis

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