Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 1997
Review[Intraoperative hypothermia: pathophysiology and clinical sequelae].
Both regional and general anesthesia markedly impair the normal precise regulation of core body temperature. Consequently, inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is common. ⋯ There is now convincing evidence that a typical degree of intraoperative hypothermia, say 2 degrees C, predisposes to numerous complications such as shivering, prolonged duration of action of several drugs, myocardial ischemia, coagulopathy and increased incidence of surgical wound infections, which alter patient outcome. Fortunately, effective methods such as convective warming are available for preventing hypothermia.