The importance of keeping dogs and cats warm in Surgery
In human medicine it is KEY to ensure people stay warm during and after surgery..
But not so much in veterinary medicine.
It can impact a number of key things..
When a patient is induced ( put under anesthesia), vasodilation allows warm blood from its core to cool down as it flows through the periphery.
If your patient becomes hypothermic ( low body temperature), several body systems can be negatively affected.
Decrease metabolic function, which can prolong recovery time.
Increased risk of infection
Increased chance of heart related side effects
Impaired ability to clot blood
Post operative shivering
Hypotension
decreased respiratory rate
diverted blood flow to the brain
impaired wound healing
Veterinary researchers decided to investigate the scale of these issues in animals, taking temperatures at different phases of hospital visits: before anaesthesia, during the operation, at the end of the operation, when the patient wakes up, and finally, a few hours later when the patient is ready to go home.
The results were sobering: nearly 90% of dogs and almost 100% of cats were found to be suffering from some degree of hypothermia.
These figures are high compared to humans: only 30 to 60% of humans suffer from some chilling after operations. This means that animals have a higher risk than humans of complications caused by hypothermia.
Anaesthetised patients should be kept off the cold surfaces made of metal, rubber and plastic at all times, instead being allowed to lie on blankets. When fluids are used for the patient (e.g. given directly as intravenous drips, or applied to the animal as a way of cleaning the operation site), these should be warmed first, where possible.
Blankets should be used at all times, beneath and on top of the patient: there are many types of fabric that can be used. Ideally, the blankets should be warmed first (e.g. in a tumble drier).
Direct heat - such as hot water bottles - has to be used with caution, as it's easy to burn an anaesthetised animal (they cannot move away if something is too hot).
The final part of this challenge is the most important: monitoring the temperature. The only way that you can tell if an animal is getting chilled is by measuring their body temperature. Through a process known as "clinical audit", many vets now monitor their clinic rates of optimal temperature in their patients, continually aiming to improve their patient care.
Minimising patient chilling is just one of many lessons that vets have learned from our medical doctor colleagues.
This an informative infographic that you can share with your vet..
