title: Warmed humidified inspired oxygen accelerates postoperative rewarming.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of warmed, humidified inspired oxygen (O(2)) for the treatment of mildly hypothermic postoperative patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, unblinded clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postanesthesia care unit in a tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients following intraabdominal surgical procedures were randomly assigned to receive either routine O(2) therapy (control group, n = 15), or warmed (42 degrees C) humidified O(2) (treatment group, n = 15) for the initial 90 postoperative minutes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Core (tympanic) temperature, dry mouth score and shivering score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tympanic temperature was similar in both groups on admission ( approximately 35.8 degrees C). Rewarming rate in the first postoperative hour was greater in the treatment group (0.7 +/- 0.1 degrees C. hr(-1)) compared to the control group (0.4 +/- 0.1 degrees C. hr(-1)) (p = 0.03). Patients receiving the warmed, humidified O(2) had a lower incidence of dry mouth compared to the control group (p = 0.03). The incidence of shivering was low and similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Warming and humidifying inspired O(2) hastens recovery from hypothermia in postoperative patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. sfrank@welch.jhu.edu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hesel
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: El-Rahmany
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Bamford
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017694:Rewarming / Q000379:methods*; D012768:Shivering; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014987:Xerostomia