Maternal and newborn outcomes related to maternal warming during cesarean delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two methods of maternal warming during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia on maternal and newborn outcomes.


METHODS
Randomized control trial.


METHODS
Two acute care hospitals in central Canada.


METHODS
62 women (32 intervention, 30 control).


METHODS
Women received either a forced-air warming blanket (intervention) or usual care warmed cotton blankets (control).


METHODS
For mothers: oral temperature, degree of shivering, thermal comfort, and pain scores. For newborns: rectal temperature at birth, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, and frequency of interventions for hypoglycemia within 3 hours of birth.


RESULTS
With the exception of perceived thermal comfort, women in the two groups were not significantly different in terms of oral temperature, incidence of shivering, and pain scores. Similarly, newborns in both groups were not significantly different in terms of any of the measured variables. Although newborn rectal temperature was within the normal range, mothers in both groups showed a significant decline in body temperature to the mild hypothermic range (control 36.7 +/- 0.4 degrees C to 35.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C, p < .001; intervention 36.8 +/- 0.4 degrees C to 36.1 +/- 0.4 degrees C, p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The usual treatment of supplying warmed cotton blankets remains the treatment of choice for this population.
Fallis
Wendy M
WM
Clinical Institute of Applied Research and Education, Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. wfallis@vgh.mb.ca
Hamelin
Kathy
K
Symonds
Jackie
J
Wang
Xikui
X
D000328:Adult; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001831:Body Temperature; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D017694:Rewarming / Q000379:methods*; D012768:Shivering / Q000502:physiology