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Forced air warming and intraoperative hypothermia
R Lindwall1, H Svensson, S Söderström
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden. Robert.Lindwall@Ane.ds.sll.se
The European Journal of Surgery = Acta Chirurgica
|April 16, 1998
Summary
Forced air warming effectively preserves patient temperature during extensive surgery, preventing hypothermia. Passive methods resulted in a significant drop in body temperature.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Patient Care
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Perioperative hypothermia is a common complication during major surgery.
- Maintaining normothermia is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of forced air warming with passive measures in preventing perioperative hypothermia.
- To evaluate temperature preservation during extensive thoracoabdominal operations.
Main Methods:
- Prospective open study conducted at a university hospital.
- 28 patients undergoing extensive thoracoabdominal operations were included.
- Temperature monitoring before, during, and up to eight hours postoperatively.
Main Results:
- Forced air warming maintained normothermia (mean temperature 36.8-36.9°C) in 12 patients.
- Passive heat preservation led to a significant temperature decrease (to 35.1°C) after three hours (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Intraoperative forced air warming is effective in preserving normothermia during major thoracoabdominal surgery.
- Passive measures are insufficient for maintaining normal body temperature in these procedures.