Abstract

ECHEVERRY-MARIN, Piedad C. et al. Survey about attitudes on perioperative temperature monitoring and thermal protection in Colombia. Rev. colomb. anestesiol. [online]. 2016, vol.44, n.4, pp.282-291. ISSN 0120-3347.

Introduction: Perioperative hypothermia is a common condition associated with serious complications and perioperative mortality. The incidence of perioperative hypothermia is between 30 and 70%. Objective: To determine the status of perioperative monitoring and thermal protection in clinics and hospitals of high complexity in Colombia and the establishment of minimum safety standards of the Colombian Society of Anesthesiology to this respect. Methods: A survey with voluntary answers was administered to leaders of anesthesiology departments and surgical services of high complexity institutions in Colombia. The questionnaire had 20 items with an adaptive structure and was sent by email to a randomized list. Only fully completed questionnaires were analyzed. Results: 135 surveys were analyzed. Measurement of temperature is reported always or almost always in 27% of cases, while 45% have at least one method of intraoperative thermal protection. Barriers for monitoring temperature and for thermal protection were explored. Conclusions: Temperature monitoring and perioperative thermal protection is insufficient in the sample studied. The reasons are: limited availability of devices for monitoring and protection and lack of interest toward the subject. There is no acceptance of minimum safety standards of the Colombian Society of Anesthesiology (S.C.A.R.E.) because of the limited availability of thermometers, poor monitoring of intraoperative temperature and misuse of heating strategies.

Keywords : Hypothermia; Patient safety; Health surveys; Monitoring intraoperative; Anesthesiology.

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