The effect of two intraoperative heat-conserving methods on orthopedic patients receiving regional and general...

Postoperative hypothermia is a serious complication of surgery. The best way to prevent postoperative hypothermia is to prevent perioperative heat loss. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Thermadrape (O.R. Concepts, Inc., Roanoke, TX), a heat-retaining surgical covering, with cotton blankets in maintaining core body temperature for patients receiving general or regional anesthesia. One hundred seventeen patients having hand, wrist, or elbow surgery were covered with either cotton blankets or Thermadrape covering throughout the perioperative period. Core body temperature was measured using a tympanic membrane device (FirstTemp, Intelligent Medical Systems, Carlsbad, CA) preoperatively, on PACU admission, and at discharge. Thermadrape covering and cotton blankets were equally effective in conserving body heat. Patients receiving general anesthesia were cooler on PACU admission than those receiving regional anesthesia, regardless of the type of covering. Hospital decisions regarding choice of perioperative heat conservation interventions will be guided by the cost of the intervention as well as efficacy. If overall hospital cost of cotton blankets is greater than that associated with Thermadrape covering, a decision to use Thermadrape covering may be warranted. Important factors for consideration in future research are presented and discussed.