Heating infiltration solutions used in tumescent liposuction: minimizing surgical risk.
BACKGROUND
Liposuction, one of the most common operations performed by plastic surgeons, is not free of complications. One of the most common factors is patient hypothermia, a factor little studied but one capable of producing severe arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. A comparative clinical study was conducted to determine what effect using tumescent infiltration solutions at room temperature and at body temperature has on vital signs.


METHODS
Two similar groups of 15 healthy female subjects were studied. In the first group (group A), subcutaneous solutions were infiltrated at room temperature (24 degrees C), and in the second group (group B), solutions were infiltrated at body temperature (37 degrees C). Vital signs (i.e., heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and blood pressure) were monitored every 15 minutes until the basal vital signs were attained. Variables such as age, body mass index, infiltrated and aspirated liquids, and surgery time were very similar for both groups.


RESULTS
Although there were differences in heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial pressure, they were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the differences between groups A and B for body temperature (34.9 +/- 1.1 degrees C versus 35.7 +/- 1.3 degrees C, respectively) and for the time necessary to attain basal vital signs (120 +/- 8 minutes versus 69 +/- 4 minutes, respectively) were statistically significant (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the existence of a significant change in the body temperature in healthy female subjects during manipulation of the temperature of the infiltration solution, this change had no important effect on the intraoperative hemodynamic values. Nevertheless, it could have a more significant effect on patients with greater surgical risk.
Robles-Cervantes
Jose Antonio
JA
Jalisco Reconstructive Surgery Institute Dr. Jose Guerrerosantos, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. durun@megared.net.mx
Martínez-Molina
Rene
R
Cárdenas-Camarena
Lazaro
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D003499:Cyclic S-Oxides; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods*
C468751:BPDZ 154; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D003499:Cyclic S-Oxides