The influence of perioperative active warming on post-operative pain and shivering in pre-schoolers

There are limited studies in the literature about the effectiveness of heating methods applied perioperatively in pediatric patients. In our study, the patients who are made elective surgery and were 2-6 years old, provided the inclusion criteria and from whose family and/or themselves their consent was obtained were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups and those who were included in group A were heated actively by apron blowing hot air in the preoperative and postoperative period, and with a carbon fiber blanket in the intraoperative process. Patients in group B were heated passively with green blankets in the preoperative and postoperative period and carbon fiber blanket in the intraoperative process. The core temperature of the patients was measured at determined intervals, and postoperatively, pain, shivering and agitation were examined with the scales determined. In this study, higher core temperature values and better intraoperative and postoperative temperature homeostasis were obtained with the application of active warming through perioperative periods. However, higher core temperature values have been shown to reduce the postoperative pain,tremor and agitation score. So complications assocciated with hypothermia can be reduced by active warming in all perioperative periods. Key words; pediatric population, perioperative warming,perioperative hypothermia, postoperative shivering, postoperative pain