The efficacy of a resistive heating under-patient blanket versus a forced-air warming system: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
We compared temperature changes in patients undergoing hip replacement during warming with a resistive heating blanket or air-forced system.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to the "forced-air group" (forced-air system) or to the "heating-blanket group" (resistive heating under-patient blanket).


RESULTS
Baseline tympanic temperatures were 36.0 +/- 0.6 degrees C in the forced-air group and 36.1 +/- 0.4 degrees C in the heating-blanket group (P > 0.05). At the end of surgery tympanic temperatures were 35.3 +/- 0.5 degrees C in the forced-air group and 35.1 +/- 0.6 degrees C in the heating-pad group (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated that, using either a resistive heating-blanket or forced-air warming systems, patients ended surgery in mild hypothermia after elective total hip replacement, but without significant differences between these two warming devices.
Fanelli
Andrea
A
Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, PR, Italy. andre-fanelli@libero.it
Danelli
Giorgio
G
Ghisi
Daniela
D
Ortu
Andrea
A
Moschini
Elisa
E
Fanelli
Guido
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000388:Air; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017694:Rewarming / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature