Effect of preheating on the maintenance of body temperature in surgical patients: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Objective:to evaluate the effect of preheating on the maintenance of body temperature of patients submitted to elective gynecological surgeries. Method:eighty-six patients were randomized, without blinding, to receive usual care (heating with a cotton sheet and blanket) or preheating with a forced air system for 20 minutes (38°C). All patients were actively heated during the intraoperative period. Data were collected from admission of the patient in the surgical center until the end of the surgery. Body temperature was measured during the preoperative and intraoperative periods with an infrared tympanic thermometer. A thermo-hygrometer was used to monitor air temperature and humidity of the operating room. Results:data indicated homogeneity between the groups investigated. There was no statistically significant difference between groups after preheating (p = 0.27). At the end of the surgery, the mean temperature of the groups studied was the same (36.8°C), with a statistically non-significant difference (p = 0.66). Conclusion:preheating with the heated forced air system had a similar effect to the usual care in the body temperature of patients submitted to elective gynecological surgeries. ClinicalTrials.gov n. . CAAE, n. 38320814.2.0000.5393.

<p>Nurse-Led Randomized Controlled Trials in the Perioperative Setting: A Scoping Review</p>

“…Thirteen published studies (15% of included studies) had a primary outcome of preventing perioperative hypothermia or temperature monitoring. 35,46,56,74,82,85,86,87,96,98,99,100,104…”

“…85,87 Active warming (comprising forced air, thermal gown, intravenous (IV) fluid warming or underbody warming) and passive warming strategies (reflective versus cotton blankets or cloths) were tested in various combinations. All perioperative hypothermia studies were conducted in the adult population, but within different surgical specialities: interventional cardiovascular procedures; 99 gastrointestinal or thoracic surgery; 85,87 obstetrics; 35,98 laparoscopic cholecystectomy; 96 colorectal surgery; 56 gynaecology; 104 cardiovascular 74 or multiple specialities. 82,100 One study assessed skin temperatures after blankets warmed to different temperatures in a population of healthy volunteers.…”

Effect of perioperative hypothermia on surgical site infection in abdominal surgery: A prospective cohort study

“…Maintaining the patient's normothermia during surgery is still a challenge for health professionals though, as it requires joint work among surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses, as well as the use of technologies (Burlingame & Conner, 2018;Fuganti et al, 2018;O'Hara et al, 2018). In this context, the nurse's role is fundamental and should focus on identifying the factors associated with perioperative hypothermia, implementing interventions to prevent this event and educating the health professionals on how to maintain patients' normothermia (Burlingame & Conner, 2018).…”

Nursing Care during the Perioperative within the Surgical Context

“…It is also related with factors intrinsic to the patient, like age, sex, systemic disorders, and body mass index. (78,91) In spite of the recommendations for maintenance of normothermia in the perioperative, this practice continues being a challenge to health professionals; (92) in Colombia, this monitoring is conducted only in 10% of surgical patients, (93) which is why interventions in hypothermia management must be a priority to guarantee safe and quality care to surgical patients. (94) The results of the study by Zaman et al, conclude that using a warm solution (38 ℃), rather than a solution at room temperature, can prevent hypothermia and reduce post-anesthetic chills in patients subjected to abdominal surgery.…”