IM droperidol as premedication attenuates intraoperative hypothermia

Perioperative hypothermia results largely from core-to-peripheral heat redistribution. Droperidol, which is often used for premedication, promotes vasodilation, and thus may affect redistribution of heat. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that preanesthetic droperidol would affect perioperative hypothermia.

Twenty-three ASA physical status I patients scheduled for arthroscopic ligament reconstruction were randomly assigned to two groups to receive no premedication or im droperidol 0.1 mg x kg(-1) 30 min before anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol and fentanyl. We monitored core (tympanic) and peripheral (palm) temperatures, and skin (fingertip) blood flow for two hours after the induction of anesthesia during surgery.

Before the induction of anesthesia, patients given droperidol were more deeply sedated than those given no premedication. Core temperature, which was similar in both groups before induction, decreased significantly more in the control than in the droperidol patients (0.75 +/- 0.34 degrees C and 0.37 +/- 0.20 degrees C, respectively, at 75 min after induction; P <0.01). Preinduction peripheral temperature and skin blood flow were lower in the control group than in the droperidol group, but the two variables became similar in both groups after induction.

The results of the present study confirm our hypothesis that premedication with droperidol affects perioperative hypothermia. Droperidol may prevent core-to-peripheral heat redistribution after the induction of anesthesia.