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Redistribution hypothermia after induction — FRCA Primary MCQ

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HardPhysiologyRedistribution hypothermia after inductionFRCA Primary

A 70-year-old patient under general anaesthesia becomes hypothermic from 36.8°C to 35.2°C during the first hour after induction despite a warm theatre. What is the most likely initial mechanism?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: B — Redistribution of core heat to peripheral tissues

The initial fall in core temperature after induction is mainly due to redistribution of heat from the core to the peripheral compartment after vasodilatation. Evaporation and radiation contribute to later heat loss, but the early steep drop is redistribution. Conductive loss to the table is usually smaller. The pearl is that pre-warming reduces the core-to-peripheral temperature gradient.

Reference: RCoA Primary FRCA Syllabus 2026; Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology; West's Respiratory Physiology