Pediatric and Obstetrics

Abstract Submission

Prevention of Maternal Hypothermia During Cesarean Section with Spinal Anesthesia (.25 Class A CE)

Speaker(s)

• 

  Jennifer Wilson, DNP, CRNA

  Staff CRNA
  Brigham and Women's Hospital
  Dedham, Massachusetts

Perioperative hypothermia occurs in women having cesarean sections with spinal anesthesia or combined spinal/epidural anesthesia. Preventing hypothermia decreases maternal shivering, improves maternal thermal comfort, reduces post-operative wound infection and reduces delay for skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. This project will use a retrospective medical review is to measure the incidence of maternal hypothermia and assess whether warming intravenous fluids and forced warm air devices in women receiving spinal or combined spinal/epidural anesthesia for cesarean deliveries on the Labor and Delivery Unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is effective. It has been shown that the incidence of perioperative hypothermia is decreased with the use of warmed intravenous (IV) fluids and the use of forced warm air devices. This project will assess the value of a change in practice to monitor maternal temperature during cesarean sections and provide active warming of patients using warmed IV fluid and forced warm air devices.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the knowledge of the incidence of maternal hypothermia during cesarean section with spinal anesthesia and the effectiveness of intraoperative maternal warming interventions.
• Understand the knowledge that is applicable to CRNA practice and may lead to improved patient outcomes in the parturient having cesarean section with spinal anesthesia.