The Effect of Heating the Intensive Care Room in the Early Postoperative Period on Patient Outcomes

The Effect of Heating the Intensive Care Room in the Early Postoperative Period on Patient Outcomes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of heating the intensive care room in the early postoperative period on patient outcomes.

Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 35°C, and patients are at high risk during the perioperative period.Unintentional hypothermia can begin before anesthesia and continue for up to the first 24 hours postoperatively.Its incidence varies between 50% and 90% depending on the patient's medical condition, the nature of the surgery, and operating room conditions.Hypothermia leads to complications such as arrhythmia, hypertension, angina, coagulopathy, increased oxygen demand, nausea, vomiting, and delayed wound healing.Additionally, adverse effects such as shivering, changes in cognitive function, decreased patient comfort, and prolonged hospital stay are also observed.The development of hypothermia is influenced by anesthesia-related thermoregulation impairment, a cold operating room environment, and prolonged operations.Patients report experiencing intense chills and shivering, especially in the postoperative period.

This increases anxiety and negatively impacts patient satisfaction and comfort. Guidelines recommend the use of passive and active warming methods to prevent unintended hypothermia.However, no studies have been found in the literature examining the effect of heating the patient room in the postoperative period.In this regard, our study was designed to evaluate the effect of heating the intensive care room in the early postoperative period on patient outcomes and to contribute to the literature.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The following criteria will be included in the sample:

• Patients who underwent elective abdominal surgery and were admitted to intensive care after surgery.

• Patients aged 18 and over.

• Patients whose body temperature on the morning of surgery was neither below 36°C nor above 37.5°C.

• Patients who did not have a pacemaker, dementia, advanced spasticity, muscle atrophy, peripheral lesions, osteoporosis, skin irritation, diabetes, hypertension, or obesity.

• Patients who did not require mechanical ventilation.

• Patients who did not have any illness that would impair thermoregulation (such as head trauma or hypothalamic damage).

  • Patients who were not taking medications that would affect thermoregulation, such as vasodilators.

• Patients who did not have peripheral circulation problems.

• Patients who were not alcohol or substance abusers.

• Patients who did not have mental retardation.

• Patients who were conscious and oriented to person, time, and place.

• Patients who could speak Turkish.

• Patients who did not have any auditory or visual impairments.

• Patients who volunteered for the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who do not meet the sampling criteria, who develop postoperative complications (bleeding, intubation, stenosis, necrosis, ileus, dermatitis, parastomal herniation, etc.), and whose relatives do not consent to the study will not be included in the study.