The efficiency of a reflective heating blanket in preventing hypothermia in patients undergoing intra-abdominal procedures.

This study determined the efficiency of a reflective blanket in preventing hypothermia during intra-abdominal gynecological procedures. Forty female patients were studied. A table of random numbers was used to assign patients to the reflective blanket group (experimental) or the warmed cotton blanket group (control). Esophageal and room temperatures were measured. Data were recorded regarding age, height, weight, body surface area, first-hour intravenous fluid volume, time from induction to skin incision and time from skin incision to peritoneal incision. The study showed no significant differences between groups in regard to esophageal or room temperatures (ANOVA, p greater than .05). No significant differences between groups in regard to patient characteristics were found (ANCOVA). No correlation was found between esophageal temperature and room temperature in either group. A significant decrease in esophageal temperatures was found in both groups during the first 45 minutes of the study (p less than .01), after which temperatures stabilized. In conclusion, the reflective blanket was no more efficient than warmed cotton blankets in preventing intraoperative hypothermia. Previous studies showing the greatest decrease in temperature occurred within the first hour of anesthesia and surgery were supported. The reflective blanket may be useful for operating rooms where the storage and heating of cotton blankets is not feasible due to limited space or cost.