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Evaluation of a Forced-Air System for Warming Hypothermic Postoperative Patients

Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Abstract

Thirty adult surgical patients oral temperature 35.0°C were randomized into two groups. Group 1 patients were covered with cotton blankets warmed to 37.0°C, and group 2 patients were treated with a forced-air warming system. Mean oral temperature on admission to the recovery room was the same in both groups (34.3°C). Oral temperature and the presence or absence of shivering were recorded at 15-min intervals. After application of the selected warming method, patients in group 2 were warmer at all time intervals. Mean temperatures in the forced-air heating group and in group 1 were, respectively, 34.8°C and 34.3°C (P < 0.05) at 15 min; 35.0°C and 34.2°C (P < 0.01) at 30 min; 35.2°C and 34.5°C (P < 0.05) at 45 min; 35.8°C and 34.7°C (P < 0.001) at 60 min; 36.0°C and 35.0°C (P < 0.01) at 75 min; and 36.0°C and 35.0°C (P < 0.01) at 90 min. The incidence of shivering was significantly greater in group 1 at 15 and 45 min. In addition, time spent in the recovery room was significantly greater in group 1 than in group 2, 156.0 min versus 99.7 min (P < 0.003).

Key Words: HYPOTHERMIA, POSTOPERATIVE. • TEMPERATURE, BODY—postoperative.

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