TYK392
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
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.