The effects of active peripheral skin warming on perioperative hypothermia in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the efficacy of three perioperative warming protocols to improve control of body temperature in anesthetized dogs.


METHODS
A randomized controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
Thirty-two client-owned dogs.


METHODS
We prospectively studied dogs entering the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Teaching Hospital for orthopedic or dental procedures and assigned them to one of three perianesthetic warming protocols. Group 1 (n = 10) had a single circulating warm water mattress applied over the trunk (single-trunk warming). Group 2 (n = 12) had two circulating warm water mattresses, one placed over and one under the trunk (double-trunk warming). Group 3 (n = 10) had warm circulating mattresses applied only around the feet and legs of all available limbs (peripheral warming). The warm water mattresses were prewarmed and maintained at 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) and applied immediately after induction of general anesthesia. All dogs had a layer of thick terry cloth toweling beneath and above the trunk. Body temperature measurements were recorded every 15 minutes for the first 2.5 hours of anesthesia.


RESULTS
The lowest mean temperature for dogs in group 3 was 37.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C (99.5 degrees F), compared with 36.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C (97.4 degrees F) and 36.7 +/- 0.2 degrees C (98.0 degrees F) in groups 1 and 2, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs in the peripheral warming group maintained significantly higher core body temperatures than dogs in either trunk warming groups throughout the 2.5-hour study period.


CONCLUSIONS
To maintain body heat in dogs during anesthesia, it is more effective to warm the feet and legs than to warm the trunk.
Cabell
L W
LW
Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
Perkowski
S Z
SZ
Gregor
T
T
Smith
G K
GK
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D007432:Intraoperative Period / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D017694:Rewarming / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*