Comparison of the EasyWarm® self-heating blanket with the Cocoon forced-air warming blanket in preventing intraoperative hypothermia

Abstract

The importance of preventing hypothermia in the perioperative period cannot be overemphasised. The use of active warming devices is advocated and practised widely. The forced-air warming (FAW) blanket is currently a popular modality. The BARRIER V R EasyWarm V R (M€ olnlycke Healthcare, Belrose, Australia) self-heating blanket, which does not require a power unit, has been proposed as an easy-to-use alternative to the FAW blanket. We conducted a singlecentre, randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of the EasyWarm V R self-heating blanket to the Cocoon blanket (Care Essentials, North Geelong, Australia), a conventional FAW blanket, in preventing intraoperative hypothermia. Forty patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia lasting >1 h were randomized in a 1:1 ratio. Prewarming was not allowed; 39 patients were analysed (19 EasyWarm V R group and 20 Cocoon blanket group). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to the mean (AEstandard deviation) final nasopharyngeal temperature (35.89 AE 0.82 C versus 35.74 AE 0.77 C; P ¼ 0.72 in the Cocoon and EasyWarm V R blanket groups, respectively). Similarly, the difference between average temperatures at 1, 2 and 3 h was not statistically significant. We found the EasyWarm V R blanket to be as effective as the Cocoon FAW blanket in preventing intraoperative hypothermia. Due to its ease of use, the EasyWarm V R blanket may have an additional benefit in preoperative warming of patients.

An Overview of the Implications for Perianesthesia Nurses in terms of Intraoperative Changes in Temperature and Factors Associated with Unintentional Postoperative Hypothermia

“…Thermal redistribution may be responsible for the fast heat loss seen during Phase I in the first hour. Phase II (heat transfer from the warmer perimeter to the rest of the environment) is characterised by a gradual linear decrease that occurs over a period of 2-4 hours, during which thermal loss surpasses metabolic heat generation [ 39 – 41 ]. Phase III (thermal homeostasis) starts following 3 - 4 h, once CTs of 33 to 35 degrees Celsius cause peripheral vasoconstriction [ 42 , 43 ].…”

Self-warming blankets versus active warming by forced-air devices for preventing hypothermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Regarding, Thapa et al study, he compared the EasyWarm self-heating blanket with the cocoon forced-air warming device, where he showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups concerning the postoperative temperature, as the mean core temperature at 1, 2, and 3 hours was similar between the groups. [ 26 ] It is noteworthy to mention that self-warming blankets may have an additional cost-effectiveness benefit, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Thereby, large-scale RCTs are encouraged to establish the cost-effectiveness of these warming techniques.…”

“…[21][22][23] Several studies have shown promising results regarding the utility of self-warming blankets and forced-air devices in patients with perioperative hypothermia. [24][25][26] However, there is a lack of evidence comparing the impact of these techniques. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of self-warming blankets compared to active warming by forced-air devices in terms of the incidence of perioperative hypothermia.…”

Self‐warming blanket versus forced‐air warming blanket during total knee arthroplasty under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised non‐inferiority trial

“…The superiority of the SW blanket over standard hospital clothing has been reported elsewhere 10 . However, other randomised controlled trials which have compared the peri‐operative use of the SW blanket with the FAW blanket under spinal anaesthesia (SA) or general anaesthesia (GA) have yielded conflicting results 11–13 …”

“…10 However, other randomised controlled trials which have compared the peri-operative use of the SW blanket with the FAW blanket under spinal anaesthesia (SA) or general anaesthesia (GA) have yielded conflicting results. [11][12][13] The aim of this trial was to investigate whether the SW blanket is non-inferior to the FAW blanket in maintaining normothermia in patients undergoing elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA).…”