Study of Effects of Amino Acids Infusion on Perioperative Hypothermia and Postoperative Shivering in School-Age Children Scheduled for Abdominal Surgeries

Abstract Background Hypothermia is one of the reported side effects of general anesthesia. Deviations from normothermia are associated with numerous complications and adverse outcomes, with infants and small children at the highest risk. Aim of the Work to assess the role of perioperative amino acid infusion in the prevention of perioperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering in school-age children. Patients and Methods: Study Randomized Controlled Double Blind Study. Study Setting: Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. Study Period: 6 months. Study Population: School age children undergoing abdominal surgery. Results The present study involved fifty-two patients divided into two groups. Group A consists of twenty-six patients who received IV amino acid infusion, and Group B (control) consists of patients who received an equivalent volume of Ringer’s solution. In addition, the current study analyzed temperature fluctuations between the two distinct groups. Initially, no statistically significant difference was found in temperatures at baseline, during induction, and minute-15 intraoperatively between the Amino Acid and Control groups. This initial parity in the temperature profiles indicates a well-matched starting point for temperature measurements. In addition, the current study revealed a significant difference in the frequency of perioperative hypothermia between the two groups. Importantly, all cases of hypothermia observed in this study were classified as mild. In the Amino Acid group, perioperative hypothermia occurred less frequently when compared to the Control group. This statistically significant difference suggests that the infusion of amino acids may have a protective effect against the development of hypothermia in school-age children undergoing abdominal surgeries. Conclusion We conclude that intraoperative hypothermia is relatively frequent complication that can have adverse physiological effects. Maintenance of normothermia during anesthesia and surgery decreases the overall morbidty. Intraoperative hypothermia could be prevented or at least decreased by using one or more of different methods for this purpose.