BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perioperative hypothermia is a common event, however seldom diagnosed and treated. Hypothermia may be beneficial or noxious for the patient depending on specific situations and procedures. This paper is a literature review of hypothermia indications and complications, as well as its diagnosis, prevention and treatment. CONTENTS: Major perioperative causes and complications of hypothermia are presented, in addition to its benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative hypothermia may be due to direct anesthetic inhibition of thermoregulation, decreased metabolism and loss of heat to the cold environment of operating rooms, even with active warming. When it is inadvertent, it may be associated to several complications, but when adequately indicated, it may protect vital organs such as central nervous system and heart. Normothermia decreases undesirable hypothermia effects, being warming the most effective preventive method. Active or passive warming approaches should be adopted and muscle shivering should be adequately treated to prevent discomfort and increased metabolic demand.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perioperative hypothermia is a common event, however seldom diagnosed and treated. Hypothermia may be beneficial or noxious for the patient depending on specific situations and procedures. This paper is a literature review of hypothermia indications and complications, as well as its diagnosis, prevention and treatment. CONTENTS: Major perioperative causes and complications of hypothermia are presented, in addition to its benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative hypothermia may be due to direct anesthetic inhibition of thermoregulation, decreased metabolism and loss of heat to the cold environment of operating rooms, even with active warming. When it is inadvertent, it may be associated to several complications, but when adequately indicated, it may protect vital organs such as central nervous system and heart. Normothermia decreases undesirable hypothermia effects, being warming the most effective preventive method. Active or passive warming approaches should be adopted and muscle shivering should be adequately treated to prevent discomfort and increased metabolic demand.