In the fixed effect model , the warming group had significantly less pain and lower incidence of wound infection , compared with the no-warming group .
In the r and om effect model , the warming group was also associated with lower risk of post-anesthetic shivering .
Both in the r and om and the fixed effect models , the warming group was associated with significantly less blood loss .
Perioperative warming of surgical patients is effective in reducing postoperative wound pain , wound infection and shivering .
Systemic warming of the surgical patient is also associated with less perioperative blood loss through preventing hypothermia-induced coagulopathy .
OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was to systematic ally analyze the trials on the effectiveness of perioperative warming in surgical patients .
Leg Warming Minimizes Core Hypothermia During Abdominal Surgery
The efficacy of leg skin warming in preventing hypothermia and shivering was evaluated in two separate prospect i ve , r and omized trials in patients undergoing abdominal surgery . In the first trial , 22 patients were r and omized to receive no hypothermia prevention ( control group ) or active warming with an electric warming blanket ( electric blanket group ) . In the second trial 33 patients were r and omized to receive no hypothermia prevention ( control group ) or forced-air warming ( Bair Hugger ® group ) or forced-air warming with insulation of the air blanket from the environment ( insulated Bair Hugger ® group ) . The core and skin temperatures were measured and changes in body heat content calculated . In the first trial , core temperature was 34.6 ± 0.3 ° C at the end of surgery in the control group vs 36.4 ± 0.1 ° C in the electric warming blanket group ( P < 0.001 ) . Shivering occurred in nine control patients and in one warmed patient ( P < 0.05 ) . In the second trial , core temperature was 35.1 ± 0.2 ° C at the end of surgery in the control group , 36.3 ± 0.1 ° C in the Bair Hugger ® group ( P < 0.01 ) and 37.1 ± 0.1 ° C in the insulated Bair Hugger ® group ( P < 0.01 versus control ; P < 0.05 versus Bair Hugger ® ) . Shivering occurred in one patient of each warmed group and in seven of the control group ( P < 0.05 ) . Skin-surface warming limited to the legs provides sufficient heat ( ranging 34 to 43 watts ) to counterbalance heat losses during abdominal surgery
In the fixed effect model , the warming group had significantly less pain and lower incidence of wound infection , compared with the no-warming group .
In the r and om effect model , the warming group was also associated with lower risk of post-anesthetic shivering .
Both in the r and om and the fixed effect models , the warming group was associated with significantly less blood loss .
Perioperative warming of surgical patients is effective in reducing postoperative wound pain , wound infection and shivering .
Systemic warming of the surgical patient is also associated with less perioperative blood loss through preventing hypothermia-induced coagulopathy .
OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was to systematic ally analyze the trials on the effectiveness of perioperative warming in surgical patients .