title: Effect of Preoperative Forced-Air Warming on Hypothermia in Elderly Patients Undergoing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elderly patients under spinal anesthesia are vulnerable to hypothermia, leading to increased morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of preoperative forced-air warming on perioperative hypothermia and shivering in elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) under spinal anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (> 65-year-old) scheduled for TURP under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive preoperative forced-air skin warming for 20 min (the pre-warmed group, n = 25) or not (control group, n = 25). Core temperatures were measured at 15-min intervals after spinal anesthesia, and intra- and post-operative shivering were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidences of intraoperative hypothermia (< 36 ºC) in the pre-warmed and control groups were not significantly different (10/25 [40%] vs. 15/24 [62.5%], P = .259). However, severities of hypothermia were significantly different (P = .019). No patient in the pre-warmed group showed moderate or profound hypothermia, whereas of patients in control group 21% and 13% did so, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that a brief period of preoperative forced-air warming did not completely prevent intraoperative hypothermia or shivering, but it could significantly reduce its severity in elderly male patients under spinal anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Youn Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sehwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea. hyun615@gilhospital.com.
authors.forename: Hyun Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001831:Body Temperature; D006361:Heating; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012768:Shivering; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000009:adverse effects*