Rewarming after cardiopulmonary bypass--a comparison of two methods

Patients returning to the Intensive Care Unit following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass are almost always hypothermic despite having been rewarmed prior to termination of bypass. The study compared the effect of an overhead radiant heat source with a reflective metallised blanket. Both groups received warmed humidified gases. Rectal, tympanic membrane and great toe temperatures were measured. Patients nursed under the radiant heat source had higher temperatures at the end of the study period as compared to those nursed with conventional means (p less than 0.05).