Incidence of Unintentional Intraoperative Hypothermia in Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery and Associated Preoperative Risk Factors

INTRODUCTION: Intraoperative hypothermia is associated with perioperative complications such as blood loss and wound infection. Thus, perioperative heat retention methods to prevent perioperative hypothermia such as providing a warmed blanket and active patients' warming are important. Although major surgery and pediatric patient age are noted as risk factors, only a few studies focus on hypothermia as an intraoperative complication in pediatric scoliosis surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia in pediatric scoliosis surgery and the associated preoperative risk factors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of pediatric patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion at a single institution between 2015 and 2019. We recorded the background data, perioperative data, lowest recorded core temperature, and perioperative complications. Patients were divided into those whose temperature decreased below 36°C (Group H) and those who maintained a temperature of 36°C or greater (Group N) during surgery. We compared the two groups and performed multivariate analysis to identify preoperative risk factors for intraoperative hypothermia. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients underwent posterior spinal fusion; 56 for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and 47 for neuromuscular scoliosis. Hypothermia was observed in 40 patients (38.8%). Group H had more non-adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients, lower mean body mass index, greater mean blood loss, greater number of fused vertebrae, larger preoperative Cobb angle, and lower initial core body temperature (immediately after induction of anesthesia). On multivariate analysis, a diagnosis of neuromuscular scoliosis, a lower body mass index, and a lower initial core body temperature were identified as independent risk factors for intraoperative hypothermia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hypothermia in pediatric posterior scoliosis surgery is 38.8%. Diagnosis of non-AIS, lower body mass index, and lower core body temperature at the time of anesthesia induction are preoperative risk factors for intraoperative hypothermia.