Surgical patients should never be below 36C/96.8F due to increased risk of
infection (infection rate doubles), increased pain, increased risk of
cardiac events, increased risk of surgical bleeding and impaired wound
healing. (Rothrock, J., Alexander's Care of the Patient in Surgery, Mosby,
2007)

Someone needs to address the concerns (and increased mortality rate) of the
*mothers* hypothermic state before addressing the lack of s2s. If the mother
is sick or dead, the baby is the lesser concern.

Best wishes,
Sam Doak (with a pile of initials, but currently a student Peri-operative
Nurse)

We're going to Candy Mountain, Charlie!

<<
Forgive me if this was discussed in the recent thread concerning reasons
not to put c/s babies skin to skin after delivery.  My L&D staff told me
today that they do not put infants skin to skin after delivery when
mothers are hypothermic.  Mothers in the PACU (recovery room) are
frequently 36C or less post delivery at our hospital.  I am told that
this is due to low OR temperatures (which is per infection control
standards) and the anesthetic. So I don't know where to take it from
there. Maybe the baby won't get cold if the couplet is covered with
heated blankets. Has anyone done a study on this? Or does anyone know
Nils Bergman's email? Obviously, hypothermic infants then have to go on
glucose protocol, get a septic work up and here we go again. 

Kind of crazy because I live in South Florida where babies would hardly
ever get cold if it weren't for air conditioning. 

 

Polly Westra

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