Effect of postoperative skin-surface warming on oxygen consumption and the shivering threshold

Cutaneous warming is reportedly an effective treatment for shivering during epidural and after general anaesthesia. We quantified the efficacy of cutaneous warming as a treatment for shivering. Unwarmed surgical patients (final intra-operative core temperatures approximately 35 degrees C) were randomly assigned to be covered with a blanket (n = 9) or full-body forced-air cover (n = 9). Shivering was evaluated clinically and by oxygen consumption. Forced-air heating increased mean-skin temperature (mean (SD) 35.7 degrees C (0.4) vs. 33.2 degrees C (0.8); p < 0.0001) and lowered core temperature at the shivering threshold (35.7 degrees C (0.2) vs. 36.4 degrees C(0.2); p < 0.0001). Active warming improved thermal comfort and significantly reduced oxygen consumption from 9.7 (4.4) ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) to 5.6 (1.9) ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) (p = 0.038). However, the duration of shivering was similar in the unwarmed (37 min (11)) and active warming (36 min (10)) groups. Core temperature contributed about four times as much as skin temperature to control of shivering. Cutaneous warming improved thermal comfort and reduced metabolic stress in postoperative patients, but did not quickly obliterate shivering.