Comparing new-technology passive warming versus traditional passive warming methods for optimizing perioperative body core temperature

Abstract

Hypothermia puts surgical patients at risk for adverse outcomes. Traditional passive warming methods are mostly ineffective in reducing hypothermia. New-technology passive warming holds promise as an effective method for promoting and sustaining normothermia throughout surgery. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to compare the effectiveness of new-technology passive warming with traditional methods. We measured core body temperature at anesthesia induction and at the end of surgery for patients undergoing robotic-assisted prostatectomy/hysterectomy in the lithotomy position who received either new-technology passive warming (n = 30) or traditional linens and gel pads (n = 35). The traditionally warmed cohort had no change in temperature (35.9° C ± 0.6° C presurgery vs 35.9° C ± 0.7° C postsurgery; t = 0.47; P = .66). The intervention cohort showed a significant increase in temperature (35.75° C ± 0.52° C presurgery vs 36.30° C ± 0.53° C postsurgery; t = 4.64; P < .001). A repeated-measure analysis of variance adjusting for surgery duration and fluid administration confirmed the significance (F = 17.254; P < .001), suggesting that new-technology passive warming may effectively complement active warming to reduce perioperative hypothermia.

Keywords: hypothermia; hysterectomy; lithotomy position; passive warming; perioperative; prostatectomy.

Copyright © 2015 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.