Lindwall R, Svensson H, Söderström S, Blomqvist H
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
Eur J Surg. 1998 Jan;164(1):13-6. doi: 10.1080/110241598750004896.
To compare a forced air warming system with passive measures to avoid perioperative hypothermia.
Prospective open study.
University hospital, Sweden.
28 Patients scheduled for extensive thoracoabdominal operations under standard combined general and regional anaesthesia.
Temperature measured before, repeatedly under anaesthesia and during the operation for up to three hours, and then up to eight hours postoperatively.
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).
Forced air warming intraoperatively can preserve normothermia during extensive thoracoabdominal operations.
