Heat loss due to sympathectomy-induced vasodilation

Hypothermia (a decrease in core temperature) is common in patients undergoing surgery with epidural anesthesia an is thought to result from heat loss to the cold environment due to sympathectomy-induced vasodilation.
Sympathectomy-induced vasodilation produced central hypothermia via net convection of the heat from the warmer central to cooler peripheral tissues. The net effect is an increase in peripheral tissue temperature at the expense of decreased central temperature.

Neural Blockade in Clinical Anesthesia and Management of Pain

By Michael J. Cousins, Phillip O. Bridenbaugh

Contributor Michael J. Cousins

Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1997

p. 277