Why Does the Temperature Drop During Surgery?
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4 min read
Mild hypothermia, defined as a core body temperature below 36°C (96.8°F), is a remarkably common side effect of surgery, occurring in up to 70% of unwarmed patients. This temperature drop during surgery, known as inadvertent perioperative hypothermia, results from a combination of anesthesia's effects on the body's natural temperature regulation, exposure to the cold operating room environment, and other factors related to the procedure itself. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for improving patient safety and recovery.
