Hi XXXXXX
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in Cardiology.
I read your query and the background with diligence.
If you have undergone surgery under general anesthesia the following needs to be considered for lowered body temperature leading to shivering (Hypothermia) and increased body temperature (Sweating). Good News is active effort needs to made the find the cause. If no cause is apparent the condition is SELF LIMITING.
Temperature Regulation During Surgery and Hypothermia:
Humans are able to maintain core body temperature within remarkably narrow physiologic limits; however, surgery, and specifically general anesthesia, alters this normal balance between heat loss and production by depressing the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center. The end result, hypothermia, has been found to impact surgical outcomes adversely by increasing postoperative discomfort, incidence of surgical bleeding, requirement of allogenic blood transfusion, incidence of wound infection, and the incidence of morbid cardiac events; all ultimately leading to longer hospitalizations. Given these negative consequences, hypothermia still occurs in a majority of surgical patients, with approximately one-third of patients developing hypothermia to a temperature less than 35°C during surgery.

HYPERTHERMIA.

Although hypothermia is common due to failure of temperature regulatory center of brain, it is important to point out that HYPERTHERMIA in the perioperative period may represent an ominous sign for the patient. In its basic element, hyperthermia (core temperature>38°C) indicates that heat production is greater than heat loss. From the metabolic standpoint, hyperthermia may represent a wide spectrum of clinical states ranging from sepsis, a febrile response from other sources of infection, blood product transfusion reaction, to an uncontrolled metabolic state such as malignant hyperthermia. Needless to say, the underlying cause should be promptly addressed: source control when infection is the cause, stopping the transfusion, immediate cessation of the offending agent, including the anesthetic, along with the administration of dantrolene if malignant hyperthermia is suspected, or changing ambient temperature if all other causes have been ruled out.

Please keep yourself warm during the episodes of feeling cold and remain in cool ambient temperature during period of remaining warm. If fever increases beyond 101 degrees F or the whole condition lasts far more than 48 hours please see your doctor. He will be able investigates other causes of hyperthermia including post operative infection. Regards. Any further query will be happily answered as soon as possible.

With Best Wishes
Dr Anil Grover,
Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW

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