Warmed humidified inspired oxygen accelerates postoperative rewarming.
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.
Frank
S M
SM
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. sfrank@welch.jhu.edu
Hesel
T W
TW
El-Rahmany
H K
HK
Tran
K M
KM
Bamford
O S
OS
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