Forced air warming and intraoperative hypothermia.

OBJECTIVES

To compare a forced air warming system with passive measures to avoid perioperative hypothermia.

DESIGN

Prospective open study.

SETTING

University hospital, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

28 Patients scheduled for extensive thoracoabdominal operations under standard combined general and regional anaesthesia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Temperature measured before, repeatedly under anaesthesia and during the operation for up to three hours, and then up to eight hours postoperatively.

RESULTS

Three patients were excluded. In the 12 patients who had forced air warming, temperature was preserved, and ranged from a mean (SD) of 36.8 (0.7) degrees C, (95% confidence interval (CI) 36.4 to 37.2) at the start to 36.9 (0.8) degrees C, (95% CI 36.5 to 37.3) after 3 hours. In patients who had conservative passive heat preservation techniques the mean temperature fell significantly perioperatively, from 36.8 (0.6) degrees C (95% CI 36.5 to 37.1) at the start to 35.1 (0.5) degrees C, (95% CI 34.9 to 35.3), after three hours of anaesthesia and surgery. This was a significant fall compared with the temperature in the study group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Forced air warming intraoperatively can preserve normothermia during extensive thoracoabdominal operations.