A case of postpartum hypothermia

Abstract

A 22 y/o G2P1 at 39+5 presented for a scheduled repeat cesarean section. Pt. had reassuring fetal heart rate tracings and no history of complications during her pregnancy. Her only past medical history included one prior full term cesarean section and morbid obesity. She had no known drug allergies and her only known allergy is to contrast dye. Pt. underwent a repeat low-transverse C-section with a spinal epidural containing Ropivacaine 0.5% 30mL. She had no immediate complications and had an estimated blood loss of 500 ml. Approximately 2 hours postpartum, anesthesia was called to the bedside for a pt. temp of 93.5 ℉, diaphoresis, SBP 140, HR 65, and O2 Sat 95%. Pt. was given 2L O2 via nasal cannula, warm blankets, a bair hugger, and 2mg ativan IV. One hour later, the patient’s temp had improved to 97.1 ℉ and the patient was taken off the bair hugger at 8 hours postpartum. Cesarean sections with spinal anesthesia come with the risk of adverse side effects, such as hypothermic reactions. In this patient, post-op multimodal warming therapies were successful within eight hours of deployment. Core temperature monitoring post-op could serve to catch downward trending body temperatures earlier. Proactive warming measures could be utilized preoperatively and intraoperatively, such as continued forced-air warming and administering warmed IV fluids, to lower the risk of post-cesarean spinal anesthesia-related hypothermia. Hypothermic reactions are a common adverse reaction seen in cesarean sections with spinal anesthesia. Furthermore, this reaction has been associated with additional complications such as wound infection, shock, and maternal mortality. Clinically, this case highlights the efficacy of forced-air and warm blanket warming in treating post-op hypothermia, but it also highlights a potential need for more consistent monitoring of temperature post-op and further research into post-op hypothermia in obese patients, as minimal research on this topic exists.