Preoperative core temperatures in elective surgical patients show an unexpected skewed distribution

Purpose: To document the preoperative core temperature of adult elective su rgical patients. Methods: A prospective audit obtained sublingual temperatures from 446 adul t elective surgical patients on arrival in the preoperative holding area. Results: Temperatures ranged from 35.7 degreesC to 37.8 degreesC with a mea n of 36.5 degreesC (0.4 SD). The median was 36.4 degreesC and the mode was 36.1 degreesC. There was a skewed distribution with a clustering of values at the lower end of the range. AM recordings were within the accepted normo thermic range, Conclusion: The asymmetric distribution we observed differs from previously published normothermia data which shows a symmetrical distribution of temp eratures, This skewed distribution has not previously been documented and w e interpret it as being due to the effect of preoperative cooling factors.