Cutaneous heat loss with three surgical drapes, one impervious to moisture.
A new surgical drape that is impervious to moisture presumably reduces evaporative heat loss. We compared cutaneous heat loss and skin temperature in volunteers covered with this drape to two conventional surgical drapes (Large Surgical Drape and Medline Proxima). We calculated cutaneous heat loss and skin-surface temperatures from 15 area-weighted thermal flux transducers in eight volunteers. In random order, each of the drapes was evaluated with dry transducers and moistened transducers (simulating wet skin). After a 20-min uncovered control period, volunteers were covered from the neck down for 40 min. Data were recorded continuously and averaged over 10 min. Results were similar for all three drapes for dry or moist conditions. Under dry conditions, baseline heat loss was 82 +/- 14 W and decreased 30% with a surgical drape (P < 0.001). Under moist conditions, baseline heat loss was 231 +/- 45 W and decreased 29% with a drape covering (P < 0.001). Moist skin increased heat loss 282% (P < 0.001). There were no clinically important differences in skin temperature among the covers with dry or moist skin. Moist skin increased heat loss nearly three-fold, but there were no differences among the drapes. We conclude that loss is comparable with impervious and conventional drapes with either moist or dry skin.
Maglinger
Paul E
PE
The Outcomes Research™ Institute and the Departments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
Sessler
Daniel I
DI
Lenhardt
Rainer
R
D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D006801:Humans; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013546:Sweating
Anesth Analg. 1992 Apr;74(4):503-9
1554116
Anesth Analg. 1995 Mar;80(3):562-7
7864426
Anesthesiology. 1998 Nov;89(5):1298-300
9822041
Anesthesiology. 1971 Jul;35(1):8-16
4932622
Anesth Analg. 1990 Oct;71(4):415-8
2400121
Anesthesiology. 1993 Jun;78(6):1055-64
8512098
J Trauma. 1991 Jan;31(1):36-8
1986130
J Nutr. 1952 Oct;48(2):257-93
13000507
Arch Surg. 1971 Feb;102(2):95-7
4250862
J Appl Physiol (1985). 1993 Jan;74(1):82-7
8444739
J Appl Physiol (1985). 1988 Aug;65(2):811-4
3170430
N Engl J Med. 1997 Jun 12;336(24):1730-7
9180091
Anesthesiology. 1991 May;74(5):875-9
2021204
Anesthesiology. 2001 Aug;95(2):531-43
11506130
Acta Paediatr Scand. 1979 Nov;68(6):795-801
539401
J Appl Physiol (1985). 1992 Dec;73(6):2668-74
1490985
Acta Paediatr Scand. 1977 Sep;66(5):553-62
899773
Anesthesiology. 1990 Oct;73(4):656-60
2221434
Anesthesiology. 1995 Mar;82(3):662-73
7879935