Which measure is recommended to reduce heat loss and hypothermia in the operating room?

• A. Maintain A Warm Ambient OR Temperature To Minimize Heat Loss.
• B. Keep The OR Very Cold To Preserve Equipment.
• C. Temperature Has No Effect.
• D. Only Warmed IV Fluids Matter.

Answer: (A)

Reducing heat loss in the operating room is essential to prevent intraoperative hypothermia. The patient loses heat to the environment mainly through radiation to the cooler room surfaces, convection from the circulating air, evaporation from exposed skin and the surgical field, and conduction to cold equipment and drapes. By keeping the ambient OR temperature warm, you decrease the temperature gradient between the patient and surroundings, which directly reduces heat loss and helps maintain normothermia.

Warming blankets, forced-air warming devices, and warmed IV fluids are helpful additions, but they don’t compensate fully if the room itself is cold—the environment remains a major driver of heat exchange. A very cold room would counteract these measures and is not recommended. Temperature does affect heat balance, so prioritizing a warm ambient environment is the best foundational measure to minimize heat loss and hypothermia risk.