POSTOPERATIVE HYPOTHERMIA CONTROL: EFFECT OF ELECTRIC AND WOOLLEN BLANKET

Abstract

Postoperative hypothermia is very common in elderly patients. It causes severe surgical complications resulting in depletion of reserves in total knee arthroplasty(TKA) patients. Normothermia should, therefore, be maintained in those patients. Purpose was to determine the effect of using both electric and woolen blankets on the management of postoperative hypothermia in TKA patients. This experimental study was conducted in a public hospital in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 46 patients equally divided into two groups. Experimental participants used both electric and wool blankets while control participants received routine care. Body temperature, feeling cold, and shivering were repeatedly measured before and after surgery. Control participants had significantly higher body temperatures in their rooms after surgery and in the first 15 minutes than experimental participants. Experimental participants showed a more rapid rise in body temperature than control participants. Using both wool and electric blankets increased body temperature.