THE 'BIG CHILL': WHY HYPOTHERMIA IS BAD WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

摘要

Dogs and cats commonly lose heat when anesthetized. Maintaining body temperature within a narrow range is important for cardiac function, metabolism, normal enzyme activity, nerve conduction, and hemostasis. Several recent publications have reported that small patients—for example, cats that weigh less than 2 kg—were 15 times more likely to die than cats weighing between 2 and 6 kg, and mat old patients and those undergoing long procedures are also at a greatly increased risk of dying (Brodbelt, Pfeiffer, et al. 2007; Brodbelt, Blissitt, et al. 2008; Brodbelt, Pfeiffer, et al. 2008). The negative impact of hypothermia is greatly underestimated and may be a contributing factor in anesthetic related deaths. These studies also reveal that intra-operative temperatures are rarely monitored.