title: Perioperative hypothermia during hip fracture surgery: An observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elderly patients are at high risk of accidental perioperative hypothermia. The primary objective of this study was to measure the changes in body temperature and the incidence of hypothermia in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective observational study on all adult patients undergoing surgery for fractured neck of femur between December 2013 and July 2014. We monitored their temperatures in different perioperative areas at multiple time points and also noted the warming methods used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-seven patients were included in this study. A significant drop in body temperature (0.7°C, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9, P < 0.001) occurred from their arrival at the operating theatre until their arrival at the recovery room. A significant drop of 0.2°C (95% CI: 0.1-0.4, P < 0.001) was observed at the holding bay area. One third of the patients were noted to be hypothermic when they arrived at the recovery room.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that despite the use of active warming methods for most patients, significant hypothermia is still an issue amongst elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Further improvement is necessary to prevent hypothermia in this high-risk group of patients.
authors.affiliation: The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.|University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Usha
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0336-872X
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gurunathan
authors.affiliation: The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.|University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0275-5234
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stonell
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research and Practice Development Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.|Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6547-1861
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fulbrook
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: aged; body temperature; hip fracture; hypothermia; perioperative period