A 2 day old, 2.9 kg female is brought to the operating room for repair of an omphalocele. The temperature prior to leaving the NICU was 37.2°C. After induction of anesthesia and intubation, a temperature probe is placed and the temperature is 35.1°C. What is the BEST way to warm the neonate prior to prepping and draping for the surgical procedure?

a) Add a humidifier to the anesthesia circuit

b) Warm the room temperature to 40 °C.

c) Warm the infant with a radiant heat lamp.

d) Start maintenance intravenous fluids via a warming circuit

e) Place the infant on a warming blanket

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Answer

Answer c. Most neonates lose heat in the operating room environment via radiant and convective losses, and a radiant heat lamp is very effective at maintaining adequate heat homeostasis. Increasing ambient room temperature is also an acceptable method of warming, although not as effective as radiant heating.

Notes

This question originally printed in the Pediatric Anesthesiology Review Topics kindle book series, and appears courtesy of Naerthwyn Press, LLC.

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