J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2013 May;20(2):108-117.

Factors Influencing Body Temperature in Elderly Surgical Patients

Affiliations
  • 1Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Korea.
  • 2Department of Nursing, Ewha Womans University, Korea. ysbyeon@ewha.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that affect body temperature in elderly operation patients using a warming method and to examine differences in post operative body temperature by characteristics of the patients.
METHODS
Data were collected from 200 patients, aged 65 years or more undergoing surgery with a warming method. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test and multiple regression with the SPSS 18.0 Program.
RESULTS
The mean score for body temperature of elderly operation patients using a warming method after surgery was 36.1+/-0.6degrees C including 74 patients with hypothermia and 126 patients with normal body temperature. The body temperature according to general characteristics differed by age and whether the surgery was emergency surgery or not. The body temperature according to surgery-related factors differed by anesthesia type, length of operation, anesthesia time, magnitude of surgical procedure, amount of fluid, transfusion requirements, and preoperative body temperature. Factors influencing body temperature were age, BMI, transfusion requirements and preoperative body temperature.
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that age, BMI, transfusion requirements and preoperative body temperature significantly influenced on body temperature after surgery. Thus preoperative body temperature needs to be maintained through pre-warming as a nursing intervention.

Keyword

Body temperature; Elderly; Surgery

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anesthesia
Body Temperature
Emergencies
Humans
Hypothermia
Full Text Links
  • JKAFN
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr