Thermal suits as an alternative way to keep patients warm peri-operatively: a randomised trial

Unintentional hypothermia of a patient is a common adverse effect during surgical procedures. Many strategies can be used to reduce heat loss. The aim of this prospective, randomised, controlled study was to determine whether the use of the thermal suit (T-Balance) could prevent surgical patients from experiencing thermal loss better than conventional measures.

We examined a group of consecutive patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate under spinal anaesthesia. Forty patients were randomised to receive the special textile clothing, thermal suit (group 1) or the conventional clothing (group 2, control). Heated blankets and a forced-air warming device (Bair-Hugger) were used when any patient felt cold or body temperature decreased below 35°C. Body temperatures were measured via mouth using an infrared thermometer and recorded at given points (T1-T10) during the procedure.

The mean temperatures were higher (about 0.5°C) in group 1 than in group 2 at the entrance to the recovery room (P = 0.03). The mean maximal decrease in temperature was 0.56°C in group 1 and 1.31°C in group 2 (P = 0.000 between groups). One patient in group 1 and seven patients in group 2 needed warming with a Bair-Hugger, and 15 out of 20 patients in group 2 needed extra blankets during surgery or recovery.

The use of the thermal suit is a good alternative to conventional measures of warming in reducing heat loss during surgical procedure under regional anaesthesia.