Effectiveness of Hypothermia Prevention Protocol Among Patients Subjected to Major Surgeries at KMCH, Coimbatore.

Hypothermia is a significant risk factor for peri-operative complications. Whatever method is used for maintaining normothermia, first and foremost, it should be remembered that careful and thoughtful actions directed at maintaining normothermia can significantly affect the course of the patient’s peri-operative experience. Objective of the study is to assess the incidence and extent of hypothermia among patients subjected to major surgeries, to determine the effectiveness of hypothermia prevention protocol among patients subjected to major surgeries and to associate the demographic, clinical variables and risk factors of hypothermia with core body temperature among patients subjected to major surgeries. The methodology adopted for this study was a Quasi-experimental one group pre test and post test design. Hypothermia prevention management strategies (active and passive warming as per core body temperature) were implemented and were observed by using Hypothermia prevention protocol checklist by the investigator. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Repeated measures ANOVA of core body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and SPO2 over a period of time revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of vitals parameters were measured at various time periods in peri-operative period at the level of p<.05. Keywords: hypothermia, peri-operative period, active warming device, passive warming device.