Reducing postoperative hypothermia in infants: Quality improvement in China

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Abstract
Background: Unintended postoperative hypothermia in infants is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. We noted consistent hypothermia postoperatively in more than 60% of our neonatal intensive care (NICU) babies. Therefore, we set out to determine whether a targeted quality improvement (QI) project could decrease postoperative hypothermia rates in infants.Objectives: Our SMART aim was to reduce postoperative hypothermia (37.5°C). Data collected was analyzed using control charts. The factors associated with a reduction in hypothermia were explored using regression analysis.Results: There were 295 infants in the project. The percentage of postoperative hypothermia decreased from 60% to 37% over 26 weeks, a special cause variation below the mean on the statistical process control chart. Reduction in hypothermia was associated with an odds of 0.17 (95% CI: 0.06–0.46; p <.001) for compliance with the transport incubator and 0.24 (95% CI: 0.1–0.58; p =.002) for prewarming the OR ambient temperature to 26°C. Two infants had hyperthermia.Conclusions: Our QI project reduced postoperative hypothermia without incurring hyperthermia through multidisciplinary team collaboration with the guidance of QI experts from the USA.
Funding Information
  • China Medical Board

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