Efficacy of active forced air warming during induction of anesthesia to prevent inadvertent perioperative hypothermia in intraoperative warming patients: Comparison with passive warming, a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2021-03, Vol.100 (12), p.e25235-e25235
• Main Authors: Yoo, Jae Hwa, Ok, Si Young, Kim, Sang Ho, Chung, Ji Won, Park, Sun Young, Kim, Mun Gyu, Cho, Ho Bum, Song, Sang Hoon, Cho, Chae Yeon, Oh, Hong Chul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia, General - adverse effects; Anesthesia, General - methods; Body Temperature; Clinical Trial/Experimental Study; Elective Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Elective Surgical Procedures - methods; Female; Heating - methods; Humans; Hypothermia - etiology; Hypothermia - prevention & control; Male; Middle Aged; Perioperative Care - methods; Perioperative Period - adverse effects; Perioperative Period - methods; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Thermometry - methods; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025235

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of peri-induction forced air warming to prevent inadvertent perioperative hypothermia, defined as a reduction in body temperature to 120 minutes. In total, 130 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia lasting >120 minutes were divided into 2 groups: peri-induction warming (n = 65) and control (n = 65). Patients in the peri-induction warming group were warmed during the anesthetic induction period using a forced-air warmer set at 47°C, whereas patients in the control group were covered passively with a cotton blanket. All patients were warmed with a forced-air warmer during surgery. Body temperature was measured using a tympanic membrane thermometer in the pre- and postoperative periods and using a nasopharyngeal temperature probe during surgery. Patients were evaluated for shivering scale score, thermal comfort scale score, and satisfaction score in the post-anesthesia care unit. The incidence rates of intraoperative and postoperative hypothermia were lower in the peri-induction warming group than in the control group (19.0% vs 57.1%, P