Postoperative Complications Related to Intraoperative Hypothermia in General Surgery Patients

Abstract

Background: Inadvertent intraoperative hypothermia (IIH; core temperature <36.0 °C) is a frequent complication of general anesthesia and is associated with impaired wound healing and delayed postoperative recovery. Objective: To determine the incidence of IIH and evaluate its association with early postoperative complications in adult general surgery patients. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 75 adults (18–65 years) undergoing elective or emergency surgery under general anesthesia at a tertiary-care hospital. Core temperature was monitored from induction to end of surgery. Patients were classified as hypothermic if temperature fell below 36.0 °C at any intraoperative time point. Early postoperative outcomes (hemodynamic abnormalities, postoperative temperature status, gastrointestinal recovery indicators, nausea/vomiting, and wound condition) were assessed in the immediate recovery period. Group comparisons used chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests and effect sizes were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: IIH occurred in 46/75 patients (61.3%), and postoperative hypothermia occurred in 41/75 (54.7%). Compared with normothermic patients, IIH was associated with higher odds of postoperative nausea (22/46 vs 7/29; OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.03–8.06; p=0.040) and delayed evacuation (40/46 vs 5/29; OR 31.0, 95% CI 8.7–110.4; p<0.001). Wound abnormalities (hyperemia or secretion) occurred in 18/46 (39.1%) hypothermic patients and 0/29 normothermic patients (p=0.001). Conclusion: IIH is common and is strongly associated with impaired wound integrity and delayed gastrointestinal recovery, supporting strict perioperative normothermia as a key quality measure.