title: Influence of a forced air warming system on morbidly obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypothermia during and after major abdominal surgery decreases host defenses, increases the incidence of coagulopathy and may alter blood pressure, cardiac contractility and myocardial stability.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a prospective randomized study to compare the benefits of a forced air warming system with warm blanket treatments in minimizing the effects of hypothermia on 64 morbidly obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the forced air warming group (n = 32) had significantly higher perioperative body core temperature, lower central venous pressure and blood pressure readings, lower incidence of shivering, less blood loss intraoperatively and achieved a higher post anesthesia Aldrete Score than those patients in the warmed blanket group (n = 32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The forced air warming system is safe, cost effective and beneficial in minimizing the undesirable consequences of hypothermia in morbidly obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
authors.affiliation: Doctors Hospital of Jackson, MI, USA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sapala
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sapala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013696:Temperature