Heat Balance in Anæsthetized Surgical Patients

Incidental Hypothermia During Surgery for Peripheral Vascular Disease

“…It is also known that a falling deep body temper-ature is accompanied by a rising oxygen consumption (Roe et al, 1966). Vale and Lunn (1969) suggest that this rise in oxygen consumption may contribute to postoperative hypoxaemia in patients who develop hypothermia during anaesthesia. The return to consciousness may be delayed in patients whose body temperature falls during anaesthesia.…”

“…Heat loss would almost certainly have been less in the absence of an epidural block, because peripheral vasoconstriction is part of the response to the cooling. Vale and Lunn (1969) have shown that if the peripheral vasoconstriction caused by incidental cooling is allowed to persist into the postoperative period, central temperature rises, peripheral temperature continues to fall and a condition of hyperpyrexia develops. They suggest, therefore, that if in the hypothermic patient central and peripheral temperatures begin to diverge, chlorpromazine should be used to cause peripheral vasodilatation.…”

“…However, when the ambient temperature is 24° C, working conditions are uncomfortable, and patients tend to gain heat (Lunn, 1969). Water-heated mattresses may also be used and Vale and Lunn (1969) have described a mattress of methyl cellulose gel which is preheated. Patients may be insulated by wrapping the lower limbs in a heat-reflecting blanket ("space blanket").…”

The Importance of Changes in Body Temperature in Paediatric Surgery and Anaesthesia

“…Warming mattresses are used in infancy, but have not been widely used in older children and adults. A heat-retaining mattress containing methyl cellulose gel (Vale and Lunn 1969) is an alternative to a circulating water mattress and lessens the risk of burns. It seems wise to avoid the use of electric blankets because of the likelihood of accidental burning.…”

Heat loss during thoracotomy: A preliminary report

“…The average length of operation in the test group was just over two hours and we cannot draw any conclusions about the value of the blanket in longer operations. It is possible that other methods of warming patients, such as a mattress containing a cellulose gel (Vale and Lunn, 1969) or warm water (Lunn, 1969), might be used in long operations.…”