The incidence and risk factors For intra-operative Hypothermia among paediatric Patients undergoing general Anaesthesia at the kenyatta National hospital

Abstract

The human thermoregulatory system maintains a core body temperature of 37 ± O.4°C by effecting appropriate homeostatic responses aimed at maintaining a balance between heat loss and heat production. General anaesthesia inhibits thermoregulation and hypothermia is the commonest peri operative thermal disturbance with an incidence of 50 - 60% in the general population. Intraoperative hypothermia is a significant independent predictor for the development of postoperative complications with adverse outcomes. Physiologically and anatomically, children are more susceptible to the development of hypothermia. Objective To determine the incidence and risk factors for intraoperative hypothermia in paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Methodology A prospective observational study of the relative contribution of selected risk factors to the overall incidence of hypothermia in paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Results The incidence of intraoperative core hypothermia in paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia at the Kenyatta National Hospital is 30%. Gender (male), lower body temperature at induction, use of caudal block and the volume of IV fluids infused were significant independent predictors of core hypothermia. The most important predictor was body temperature at the time of induction of general anaesthesia.