ABSTRACT
Objective: With an effort to decrease the incidence of core hypothermia in the preoperative period and ambient operating room temperature is a well known predictor of intraoperative core hypothermia. This prospective study was done with the primary purpose to find any possible influential factors associated with the ambient operating room temperature especially the function of thermostat. The secondary purpose was to survey the attitude and knowledge of operating room personnel concerning the relationship between an ambient operating room temperature and patient's intraoperative core hypothermia including measures to prevent preoperative core hypothermia and any obstacles. Methods: We surveyed thermostat function and measured the real ambient operating room temperature both in the operating rooms where the thermostats were functioning (TFR) and those where they weren't (TNFR) in the Siammitra building, Siriraj hospital during the period of December 2000 and January 2001. Also, 200 questionnaires were used to survey operating room personnel regarding their knowledge and attitude concerning the relationship between an ambient operating room temperature and patient's intraoperative core hypothermia including measures to prevent preoperative core hypothermia and any obstacles. Results: 40% (20 out of 46) of the thermostats were non functioning (most of these were in the orthopedics and ophthalmic operating rooms) and the mean ambient temperature in these rooms (TNFR) was 19.2 ฑ 1.57 ฐC which was significantly lower than that in the rooms where the thermostat was functioning (TFR). 90% of the mean operating room temperature in the TNFR were lower than 21ฐC. However, the lowest temperature (12ฐC) was found in a TFR and still more than half of the mean ambient temperatures in the TFR were lower than 21ฐC. More than half of the operating room personnel believed that increasing the ambient temperature could help prevent intraoperative core hypothermia. Non functioning of the thermostats was the main reason of the cold operating room given by the scrub nurses while intolerance of the surgical team to a warm environment was the main reason given by the anesthesia team. The staff anesthesiologists asked for more attention and concern be given to hypothermia and warming process. Conclusion: Non functioning of the thermostat is probably the important influential factor determining the ambient temperature in orthopedics and ophthalmic operating rooms. While the ambient temperatures in some of the rooms where the thermostat were functioning (non cardiopulmonary bypass room) were still very low. More information about core hypothermia and optimal operating room temperature, information about patient\\\'s temperature during the operation and access to control the ambient temperature should be the way to improve the quality of care and prevent the risk of core hypothermia to our patient during operation.