What is a recognized consequence of hypothermia during surgery?

Hypothermia during surgery is associated with several physiological changes that can negatively impact patient outcomes. One recognized consequence is an increased incidence of wound infections. When a patient's body temperature drops, it can lead to compromised immune function and impaired wound healing. This can result from a variety of factors, including reduced blood flow to the tissues and altered metabolic processes that slow down healing.

Maintaining normothermia is critical in the surgical setting to optimize all bodily functions and mitigate complications, as hypothermia can disrupt normal thermoregulation and increase susceptibility to infections. Therefore, ensuring that patients are kept warm during surgical procedures is an important practice to reduce the risk of postoperative infections and improve overall recovery outcomes.