Mean Temperature Loss During General Anesthesia for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Comparison of Males and Females

Abstract

Introduction Mild hypothermia is common after general anesthesia. It is associated with discomfort and shivering. Greater fall of temperature is associated with more devastating complications. Data regarding the effect of gender on perioperative hypothermia is scanty. Objectives of the study To determine and compare mean core temperature loss in males and females undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Setting and design Descriptive cross-sectional study in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Subjects and methods Ninety-seven elective laparoscopy patients were included through non-probability consecutive sampling. Intraoperatively, there was standardization of monitoring equipment, drapes, operation room temperature (21-22 °C), humidity (50%), irrigation fluid temperature (37 °C), peritoneal CO₂ temperature (21-22 °C), anesthetic fresh gas flow rates at induction and maintenance. Temperature recording equipment (nasopharyngeal probe) and temperature recording interval (10 minutes) were also standardized from induction till the end of surgery. Final temperature was recorded at the end of surgery before emergence. Results Mean temperature loss was 0.73 ⁰C ± 0.47⁰C. Mean loss was significant in males compared to females with a mean difference of 0.28°C ± 0.93⁰C; P-value= 0.003. Conclusion Mean temperature decreases significantly in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients under general anesthesia. We recommend that more care is needed to prevent hypothermia in male patients because of their higher susceptibility to hypothermia.

Keywords: body temperature; cholecystectomy; female; general anesthesia; hypothermia; laparoscopy; male; subcutaneous fat.

Figure 1. Algorithm for temperature adjustment.