Heat conservation during abdominal surgery
Iwasaka, H.; Ishida, K.; Kitano, T.; Mizutani, A.; Taniguchi, K.; Honda, N.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 41(4): 666-669
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 1578625 Document Number: 393885
Intraoperative hypothermia is a major problem in anesthetic management. We compared the heat conserving effect of a forced air warming system (Bair Hugger, Augustine Medical Inc.) with that of a warming blanket. Sixteen patients undergoing abdominal surgery were studied. Patients were anesthetized with nitrous oxide and oxygen combined with epidural anesthesia. Patients received tympanic, rectal, bladder and core temperature monitorings. Patients were divided randomly to Bair Hugger group (BH, n = 8) or warming blanket group (WB, n = 8). Temperature were measured every one hour over three hours. The BH group showed significantly higher temperatures than WB group. Bair Hugger system is an efficient way to maintain intraoperative body temperature.