Abstract: Objective: To develop evidence-based nursing practices for the prevention and management of intraoperative hypothermia in liver transplant recipients, and provide a reference for hypothermia prevention and management in this patient population. Methods: Guided by the JBI Evidence-Based Healthcare Model, an evidence-based protocol for preventing and managing intraoperative hypothermia in liver transplant recipients was constructed through evidence retrieval, current practice review, and evidence implementation. A convenience sample of 52 liver transplant recipients and 52 members of the liver transplant team at a tertiary hospital in Ningbo. The incidence, duration, and grading of hypothermia, the implementation rates of relevant review indicators, and changes in the transplant team’s knowledge level about hypothermia were compared between the pre-evidence-implementation period (from May to September 2023) and post-evidence-implementation period (from October 2023 to February 2024). Results: After evidence implementation, the incidence of hypothermia (P=0.013), duration of hypothermia (P=0.024), and hypothermia grading (P=0.038) in the evidence-based practice group significantly improved. The implementation rates of all relevant review indicators and the team’s knowledge level about hypothermia were higher than those before implementation, with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). Conclusion: The evidence-based protocol for preventing and managing intraoperative hypothermia in liver transplant recipients is clinically feasible. It effectively enhances the implementation of clinical management behaviors by the liver transplant team and is of great significance for reducing the incidence, shortening the duration, and decreasing the grading of intraoperative hypothermia in liver transplant recipients.

Key words: liver transplantation; hypothermia; evidence-based nursing; evidence review