Hypothermia, Mild

Greater in infants and children

Greater in longer, larger operations

Similar in RA and GA

Surgical wound infections

Coagulopathy

Reduced drug metabolism

Prolonged recovery and hospitalization

Shivering and thermal discomfort

Benefits:

• Improved neurologic recovery in asphyxiated neonates

• Decreases triggering and severity of malignant hyperthermia.

Core temperature normally protected by responses that include sweating, vasoconstriction, and shivering.

Typical doses of GA have little effect on the sweating threshold but decrease vasoconstriction and shivering thresholds 2–4° C, thus increasing the range of temperatures not triggering protective responses 10-fold from approximately 0.4–4° C.

RA inhibits thermoregulatory control by preventing peripheral responses (such as vasoconstriction) and centrally by reducing afferent input.