Effect of Intraoperative Hypothermia on Post-anesthesia Recovery in Elderly Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Intraoperative hypothermia (IOH) is a common concern in elderly patients undergoing abdominal
surgery, potentially leading to prolonged recovery, increased post-operative complications, and extended hospital
stays. Understanding the effects of hypothermia on recovery and patient comfort is crucial for improving surgical
outcomes and optimizing healthcare resource utilization. Methods: The research investigates secondary data
from peer-reviewed journals published between 2015 and 2024 to examine how IOH affects elderly patients
during abdominal surgery. Medical research from PubMed and Scopus electronic databases led to data collection
for studies that contained relevant clinical, along with physiological and psychological data. Results: The
research shows that hypothermia during surgery directly affects treatment duration and complications, along with
patient comfort and recovery time, as well as hospitalization lengths. Research has shown hypothermia disturbs
temperature regulation and postpones anesthetic emergence and raises infection risk, and interferes with early
rehabilitation decisions, which extend hospital duration. Discussion: In older abdominal surgery patients, IOH
was repeatedly connected to delayed recovery, higher post-operative problems, discomfort, worse mobility, and
longer hospital stays. The results underline the vital requirement of proactive perioperative warming techniques
to guarantee patient safety and comfort as well as to enhance results. Conclusion: All surgical patients should
maintain normal body temperature, but elderly patients especially need normothermic care to improve surgical
recovery results. Controlling temperature through active methods, along with regular monitoring, helps minimize
surgical complications and reduces hospital stay time because of its vital role in perioperative care.