Comparison of upper and lower body forced air blanket to prevent perioperative hypothermia in patients who underwent spinal surgery in prone position: a randomized controlled trial
- Author:
Jae Hwa YOO
1
;
Si Young OK
;
Sang Ho KIM
;
Ji Won CHUNG
;
Sun Young PARK
;
Mun Gyu KIM
;
Ho Bum CHO
;
Sang Hoon SONG
;
Yun Jeong CHOI
;
Hyun Ju KIM
;
Hong Chul OH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Clinical Research Article
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 2022;75(1):37-46
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:We compared upper- and lower-body forced-air blankets in terms of their ability to prevent perioperative hypothermia, defined as a reduction in body temperature to < 36.0°C, during the perioperative period in patients undergoing spine surgery in the prone position.
Methods:In total, 120 patients scheduled for elective spine surgery under general anesthesia were divided into an upper-warming group (n = 60) and a lower-warming group (n = 60). After inducing anesthesia and preparing the patient for surgery, including prone positioning, the upper and lower bodies of the patients in the upper- and lower-warming groups, respectively, were warmed using a forced-air warmer with specified upper and lower blankets. Body temperature was measured using a tympanic membrane thermometer during the pre- and post-operative periods and using a nasopharyngeal temperature probe during the intraoperative period. Patients were evaluated in terms of shivering, thermal comfort, and satisfaction in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).
Results:The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative hypothermia was lower in the upper-warming group than in the lower-warming group ([55.2% vs. 75.9%, P = 0.019] and [21.4% vs. 49.1%, P = 0.002]). Perioperative body temperature was higher in the upper-warming group (P < 0.001). However, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative thermal comfort scale and shivering scores, patient satisfaction, and PACU duration were similar in the two groups.
Conclusions:The upper-body blanket was more effective than the lower-body blanket for preventing perioperative hypothermia in patients who underwent spine surgery in the prone position.
