Is Temperature Monitoring Necessary in Pediatric Circumcision?

Objective: Perioperative hypothermia occurs in the pediatric age group in the perioperative period at a high rate. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the incidence of perioperative hypothermia and the risk factors that play a role in its development in pediatric circumcision cases that have a brief operation duration. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 100 children who underwent circumcision under general anesthesia. All patients were heated with a passive heater and hypothermia was interpreted as a drop in body temperature below <36˚C. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (patients with body temperature <36˚C) and group 2 (≥36˚C). Demographic data, the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Classification of Physical Health Score, premedication method, operation time, fluid amount, preoperative and postoperative temperature of patients as tympanic were recorded. Results: The average age of the patients was 70 ± 40 months (median: 84) and 93% were ASA I. In 71% of patients, a decrease in body temperature and hypothermia developed in 39% compared to baseline. The duration of operation was longer in the group with hypothermia (30 min [15-70] vs. 25 min [15-60], P < .001). Only the duration of operation was determined as the independent risk factor associated with hypothermia (odds ratio: 1.103 [1.017-1.197], P = .018). Conclusion: In this study, it was found that high rates of hypothermia developed even in minor operations such as pediatric circumcision. The risk of hypothermia increases with the prolongation of surgery.