title: Forced air warming and intraoperative hypothermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a forced air warming system with passive measures to avoid perioperative hypothermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 Patients scheduled for extensive thoracoabdominal operations under standard combined general and regional anaesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Temperature measured before, repeatedly under anaesthesia and during the operation for up to three hours, and then up to eight hours postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients were excluded. In the 12 patients who had forced air warming, temperature was preserved, and ranged from a mean (SD) of 36.8 (0.7) degrees C, (95% confidence interval (CI) 36.4 to 37.2) at the start to 36.9 (0.8) degrees C, (95% CI 36.5 to 37.3) after 3 hours. In patients who had conservative passive heat preservation techniques the mean temperature fell significantly perioperatively, from 36.8 (0.6) degrees C (95% CI 36.5 to 37.1) at the start to 35.1 (0.5) degrees C, (95% CI 34.9 to 35.3), after three hours of anaesthesia and surgery. This was a significant fall compared with the temperature in the study group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Forced air warming intraoperatively can preserve normothermia during extensive thoracoabdominal operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden. Robert.Lindwall@Ane.ds.sll.se
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindwall
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Söderström
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006361:Heating / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery