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The effects of active peripheral skin warming on perioperative hypothermia in dogs
L W Cabell1, S Z Perkowski, T Gregor
1Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
Objective:
This study evaluates the efficacy of three perioperative warming protocols to improve control of body temperature in anesthetized dogs.
Study Design:
A randomized controlled clinical trial.
Animals Or Sample Population:
Thirty-two client-owned dogs.
Methods:
We prospectively studied dogs entering the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Teaching Hospital for orthopedic or dental procedures and assigned them to one of three perianesthetic warming protocols. Group 1 (n = 10) had a single circulating warm water mattress applied over the trunk (single-trunk warming). Group 2 (n = 12) had two circulating warm water mattresses, one placed over and one under the trunk (double-trunk warming). Group 3 (n = 10) had warm circulating mattresses applied only around the feet and legs of all available limbs (peripheral warming). The warm water mattresses were prewarmed and maintained at 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) and applied immediately after induction of general anesthesia. All dogs had a layer of thick terry cloth toweling beneath and above the trunk. Body temperature measurements were recorded every 15 minutes for the first 2.5 hours of anesthesia.
Results:
The lowest mean temperature for dogs in group 3 was 37.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C (99.5 degrees F), compared with 36.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C (97.4 degrees F) and 36.7 +/- 0.2 degrees C (98.0 degrees F) in groups 1 and 2, respectively.
Conclusions:
Dogs in the peripheral warming group maintained significantly higher core body temperatures than dogs in either trunk warming groups throughout the 2.5-hour study period.
Clinical Relevance:
To maintain body heat in dogs during anesthesia, it is more effective to warm the feet and legs than to warm the trunk.