Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors related to the decrease in core body temperature after deflation of a pneumatic tourniquet during unilateral knee surgery under general anaesthesia. METHODS: This observational study recruited 30 patients scheduled for arthroscopic surgery (group A) and 30 patients scheduled for open surgery (group O). Intraoperative oesophageal temperature was measured during tourniquet inflation and every minute for 10 min after deflation. RESULTS: Core temperature decreased significantly after tourniquet deflation in both groups, the decrease being significantly greater in group A than in group O. Duration of tourniquet inflation and type of surgery were correlated with the temperature decrease. CONCLUSIONS: In knee surgery using a tourniquet, the decrease in core body temperature after tourniquet deflation was closely related to the duration of tourniquet inflation and to arthroscopic rather than open surgery. Further studies are required to determine the effect of surgery type on temperature changes, independently of the duration of tourniquet inflation.