[Preoperative prewarming as a routine measure. First experiences].
BACKGROUND
Despite the broad application of intraoperative warming new studies still show a high incidence of perioperative hypothermia. Therefore a prewarming program in the preoperative holding area was started.


METHODS
The efficacy of the prewarming program was assessed with an accompanying quality assurance check sheet over a period of 3 months.


RESULTS
During the 3 month test period 127 patients were included. The median length from arrival in the holding area to beginning prewarming was 6 min and the average duration of prewarming was 46±38 min. During prewarming the core temperature rose by 0.3±0.4°C to 37.1±0.5°C and decreased to 36.3±0.5°C after induction of anesthesia. At the end of the operation the core temperature was 36.4±0.5°C and 14% of the patients were hypothermic.


CONCLUSIONS
These data allow 2 conclusions: 1. Prewarming in the holding area is possible with a sufficient duration. 2. Prewarming is highly efficient even when performed over a relatively short duration.
Bräuer
A
A
Zentrum Anaesthesiologie, Rettungs- und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität, Robert-Koch-Strsse 40, 37075 Göttingen. abraeue@gwdg.de
Waeschle
R M
RM
Heise
D
D
Perl
T
T
Hinz
J
J
Quintel
M
M
Bauer
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult