Thermoregulation and Temperature Management Flashcards

Forced-air warming blankets achieve warming primarily through which mechanism?

Answer: Convection via warm air flow over skin

Forced-air warming blankets warm the patient through convection, circulating warm air across a large skin surface area.

Which temperature monitoring site provides the most accurate reflection of core body temperature in PACU patients?

Answer: Pulmonary artery (PA catheter)

PA catheter temperature directly measures blood in the central circulation and is the gold standard for core temperature, though less practical; esophageal and nasopharyngeal are close alternatives in clinical settings.

Which condition is characterized by muscle rigidity, rapidly rising hyperthermia, and autonomic instability following anesthetic exposure?

Answer: Malignant hyperthermia

Malignant hyperthermia presents with hypercapnia, muscle rigidity, rapidly rising temperature, and autonomic instability triggered by volatile anesthetics or succinylcholine.

Perioperative hypothermia is most directly associated with which post-operative complication?

Answer: Increased wound infection risk

Hypothermia impairs immune function and reduces tissue oxygen delivery, significantly increasing the risk of surgical site infection.

At approximately what core temperature does the risk of serious cardiac arrhythmias significantly increase?

Answer: Below 32.0°C (89.6°F)

Below 32°C (89.6°F), the risk of ventricular fibrillation and other life-threatening arrhythmias increases substantially.

Maintaining the operating room temperature above which level is a standard strategy to reduce intraoperative hypothermia?

Answer: 22°C (71.6°F)

OR ambient temperature above 22°C (71.6°F) helps minimize radiant heat loss from the patient's skin during surgery.

Warm intravenous fluid administration in the PACU primarily prevents which type of heat loss?

Answer: Conduction from cold fluids lowering core temperature

Administering cold IV fluids directly lowers core temperature via conduction; warming fluids to body temperature prevents this internal heat drain.