Fig. 1. Mild intraoperative hypothermia prolongs postoperative recovery. One hundred fifty patients were randomly assigned to normothermia or approximately 2.5°C core hypothermia. Fitness for discharge was determined using defined criteria by observers blinded to patient temperature and group assignment. The percentage of patients fit for discharge are plotted against time, using survival curve analysis. Hypothermia significantly delayed discharge by approximately 40 min (left ). When normothermia (core temperature > 36°C) also was required for discharge, the difference between the groups increased to nearly 2 h (right ). These data indicate that mild hypothermia significantly prolongs postanesthetic recovery. (Reprinted with permission. 143) PACU = postanesthesia care unit.