A prospective comparison of three heat preservation methods for patients undergoing hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively compare 3 methods of body heat preservation in patients undergoing surgery requiring the use of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, and nonblinded.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Adult cardiac surgery patients (n = 101).


METHODS
Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: Group 1 (n = 33) used a fluid-filled warming blanket, group 2 (n = 31) used a heated and humidified breathing circuit, and group 3 (n = 37) used intravenous fluid warmers for the administration of all fluids. Treatments started on separation from CPB and concluded at the end of the intraoperative experience. Anesthetic technique, minute ventilation, conduct of CPB, and room temperature in the operating room were standardized.


RESULTS
Blood temperature was measured at its nadir on CPB, on separation from CPB, and just before departure from the operating room. No differences were found among groups for CPB duration, coldest venous temperature on CPB, rewarming time, rate of rewarming, room temperature, or blood temperature on separation from CPB. There were no significant differences found in post-CPB temperature afterdrop among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that there is no statistically significant disparity in the effectiveness of these 3 intraoperative heat preservation methods. Ease of use and cost-effectiveness should guide the choice of warming method post-CPB.
Ginsberg
S
S
Department of Anesthesia, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08901-1977, USA.
Solina
A
A
Papp
D
D
Krause
T
T
Pantin
E
E
Scott
G
G
Chuzhin
Y
Y
Cody
R
R
Israel
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies