Unit 12 - Misc. Topics Flashcards
most effective single method of perioperative warming
forced air warmer
afferent limb of temperature regulation
thermoreceptors
- skin
- deep tissue
- spinal cord
control center of temperature regulation
- hypothalamus (preoptic region)
- brainstem
efferent responses to hypothermia
- vasoconstriction
- piloerection
- shivering
- nonshivering thermogenesis
efferent response to hyperthermia
- vasodilation
- diaphoresis
4 mechanisms of heat transfer
- radiation
- convection
- evaporation
- conduction
how does a patient lose heat via infrared radiation
if the patient is warmer than the environment, then heat is lost to the environment
what type of heat transfer does covering the patient reduce
radiant
number 2 source of heat loss
convection
what is convection?
what % of periop heat transfer does it account for?
transfer of heat by movement of matter
15-30%
how is heat lost via convection?
air movement over the body whisks away heat that has radiated from the body
the body radiates more heat to replace what was taken away by airflow
how does laminar flow affect the amount of heat lost to convection
increases
amount of energy to vaporize water
latent heat of vaporization
what % of heat transfer does evaporation account for in the periop pt
20%
how can water be lost by evaporation during surgey?
- respirations
- wounds
- internal organ exposure
the rate of this process is a function of the exposed surface area and the relative humidity of the environment
evaporation
what is conduction?
what % of heat transfer does this account for in periop pt?
heat is lost when the patient comes into direct contact with a cooler object
< 5%
examples of heat loss through conduction
- cold OR table
- cold IV fluids
- cold irrigation fluids
the amount of conductive heat loss is a function of:
the temperature gradient and thermal conductivity of the object
phase 1 of intraoperative heat transfer
how long does this phace last?
heat redistribution from core to periphery
first hour after induction of anesthesia
what is phase 2 of intraoperative heat transfer?
when does this occur?
heat transfer is greater than heat production
hours 1-5 after induction
what is phase 3 of intraoperative heat transfer?
when does this occur?
equilibrium develops between heat lost to environment and heat production
hours 5-7 after induction
what causes heat redistribution during general, spinal, or epidural anesthesia?
redistribution of heat from central compartment to peripheral compartment
perioperative events contributing to heat loss
- recalibration of the hypothalamic set point
- drug induced vasodilation
- impaired shivering
- core to peripheral temperature redistribution
- cool ambient temp
- cold OR table
- admin of room temp fluids and cold blood products