[The efficacy of carbon-fiber resistive-heating in prevention of core hypothermia during major abdominal surgery].
BACKGROUND
Perioperative hypothermia causes numerous severe complications, such as coagulopathy, surgical wound infections, and morbid myocardial outcomes. For prevention of intraoperative hypothermia, an inexpensive, non-disposable carbon fiber resistive warming system has been developed.


METHODS
We evaluated the efficacy of resistive-heating, comparing to circulating-water mattress and forced-air warming system. Twenty four patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to warming with: 1) a circulating water mattress, 2) a lower-body forced-air system, or 3) a carbon-fiber, resistive-heating blanket.


RESULTS
Tympanic membrane temperature in the first two hours of surgery decreased by 1.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C in the water mattress group, 1.0 +/- 0.6 degree C in the forced-air group, 0.8 +/- 0.2 degree C in the resistive-heating group. The decreases in core temperature by the end of surgery were 2.0 +/- 0.8 degrees C in the water mattress group, 0.6 +/- 1.1 degrees C in the forced-air group, and 0.5 +/- 0.4 degree C in the resistive blanket group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the changes of core temperature between the forced-air group and the resistive-heating group. No side effects related to resistive-heating blanket were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Even during major abdominal surgery, carbon-fiber resistive-heating maintains core temperature as effectively as forced air.
Hasegawa
Kenji
K
Department of Anesthesiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo 162-8666.
Negishi
Chiharu
C
Nakagawa
Fumitoshi
F
Mukai
Shihoko
S
Ozaki
Makoto
M
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002244:Carbon / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D017694:Rewarming / Q000379:methods
D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D002244:Carbon