Effect of Hypothermia Prevention Program on Shivering and Recovery Time in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

 Background and purpose: Hypothermia is a common complication during anesthesia and surgery which leads to complications such as shivering, delay in recovery, and prolonged hospital stay. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of hypothermia prevention program on shivering and recovery time in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Materials and methods: This single-blind clinical trial was performed in 80 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to either an intervention group that received hypothermia prevention program (using warm prep solution, warm serum during surgery, and hot water bag to retain heat in recovery) or a control group. The patients were evaluated for shivering and recovery time. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V21 using t-test and Chi-square. Results: According to findings, temperature changes were different over time between the two groups (P=0.001). In control group, 82.5% had shivering, while in intervention group only 7.5% experienced shivering (P= 0.001). Recovery time was also significantly lower in intervention group (P= 0.001). Conclusion: Due to the complications of hypothermia, implementing a hypothermia prevention program can greatly prevent the chills, shorten recovery time, and lower the risk of other complications. Therefore, it is recommended as a low-cost and effective care program in patients undergoing major surgeries such as abdomen and thorax and also in surgical practices of elderly patients.   (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20200304046691N1)