Temperature Changes During Induction of General Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients

We aim that uncovering patients during induction of general anesthesia does not decrease core body temperature in pediatric patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypothermia
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Covered and uncovered anesthesia induction

Detailed Description

Some anesthesiologists cover the pediatric patient with a blanket during the induction of general anesthesia, while others do not. Complaints have been raised by pediatric surgeons that if a pediatric patient is not covered during induction of general anesthesia, the child's core body temperature will be lower than normal following surgery and in the recovery room.

Children are at risk of significant heat loss in the operating room due to multiple factors, such as, exposure to cold temperatures, decrease in metabolism following induction of general anesthesia, increased surface-area-to-volume ratio, and through considerable respiratory heat loss.1

A decrease in temperature of 0.5ºC to 1.5ºC can occur during induction of general anesthesia in pediatric patients2. The use of heating blankets and warmers may increase temperature or result in a constant temperature on pediatric patients intra-operatively3. We want to investigate the differences in temperature between the two approaches, covering and not covering pediatric patients, during induction of general anesthesia of a urologic procedure with a caudal block and the difference in temperature post-operatively. We hypothesize that the core temperatures of:

1. the covered and warmed group during induction of general anesthesia will be greater by 0.5ºC than the uncovered group during induction of general anesthesia.
2. both groups, covered and uncovered, will be equal during surgery and post-operatively. In other words, due to the active warming procedures during surgery and post-operatively in the PICU, core temperatures of the uncovered group will catch up to the covered group.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 44

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104
      • The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Deparment of Anesthesiology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 months to 3 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Children in an academic center

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• The ages of the subjects ranging from 6 months to 3 years undergoing surgery for circumcision or hernia repair with caudal block.

Exclusion Criteria:

• ASA physical status classification greater than 2, unsigned or unattainable written informed consent form, induction of general anesthesia time of greater than 45 minutes, fever, or temperature regulation inability.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Cover and Uncover; Procedure/Surgery

Procedure: Covered and uncovered anesthesia induction; We hypothesize that the core temperatures of: the covered group during induction of general anesthesia will be greater by 0.5ºC than the uncovered group during induction of general anesthesia.; both groups, covered and uncovered, will be equal during surgery and post-operatively. In other words, due to the active warming procedures during surgery and post-operatively in the PICU, core temperatures of the uncovered group will catch up to the covered group.; Other Names: Anesthesia; Temperature; Pediatric; Urology

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Covered group during induction of general anesthesia will be greater by 0.5ºC than the uncovered group during induction of general anesthesia.	1.5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Covered and uncovered, will be equal during surgery and post-operatively. In other words, due to the active warming procedures during surgery and post-operatively in the PICU, core temperatures of the uncovered group will catch up to the covered group.	1.5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oklahoma
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mohanad Shukry, MD, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bissonnette B. Temperature monitoring in pediatric anesthesia. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 1992 Summer;30(3):63-76.
• Hynson JM, Sessler DI, Moayeri A, McGuire J, Schroeder M. The effects of preinduction warming on temperature and blood pressure during propofol/nitrous oxide anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 1993 Aug;79(2):219-28, discussion 21A-22A. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199308000-00005.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 3, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): July 4, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 4, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2010
• Last Verified: February 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Children core temperature,; Pediatric surgery,; Anesthesia induction
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Temperature Changes; Hypothermia; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Anesthetics
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB No 14004