Operating rooms are often cold.
Often a patient undergoingsurgeryasks, “Why is it so cold in here?”
In fact, operating rooms kept cold actually increase the risk of surgical site infection.
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Why is that the case?
When a patient’s body temperature cools, the risk of surgical site infection goes up.
Your body constricts blood vessels in cold environments so as not to waste heata process calledthermoregulation.
The second factor is that yourimmune systemis actually weakened byhypothermia(too low of a body temperature).
Therefore, maintaining normal body temperature during surgery will help your body fight infection.
So Why Is It So Cold in the OR?
The room is often kept cool to keep the surgeon and the staff more comfortable.
As mentioned, the best thing you could do is ask to be kept warm.
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