The results of this study suggest that preoperative warming can reduce rates of SSI after surgery .
OBJECTIVE To determine whether preoperative warming can reduce the risk of surgical site infection ( SSI ) after surgery .
BACKGROUND Intraoperative hypothermia is a risk factor for the occurrence of  SSI in patients after surgery .
However , the effectiveness of preoperative warming in reducing the incidence of the condition remains unclear .
Preoperative Warming Versus no Preoperative Warming for Maintenance of Normothermia in Women Receiving Intrathecal Morphine for Cesarean Delivery: A Single-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND : Rates of hypothermia for women undergoing spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery are high and prevention is desirable . This trial compared the effectiveness of preoperative warming versus usual care among women receiving intrathecal morphine , which is thought to exacerbate perioperative heat loss . METHODS : A prospect i ve , single-blinded , r and omized controlled trial compared 20 minutes of forced air warming ( plus intravenous fluid warming ) versus no active preoperative warming ( plus intravenous fluid warming ) in 50 healthy American Society of Anesthesiologists grade d II women receiving intrathecal morphine as part of spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean delivery . The primary outcome of maternal temperature change was assessed via aural canal and bladder temperature measurements at regular intervals . Secondary outcomes included maternal thermal comfort , shivering , mean arterial pressure , agreement between aural temperature , and neonatal outcomes ( axillary temperature at birth , Apgar scores , breastfeeding , and skin-to-skin contact ) . The intention-to-treat population was analyzed with descriptive statistics , general linear model analysis , linear mixed-model analysis , & khgr;2 test of independence , Mann-Whitney , and Bl and -Altman analysis . Full ethical approval was obtained , and the study was registered on the Australia and New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry ( Trial No : 367160 , registered at http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ ) . RESULTS : Intention-to-treat analysis ( n = 50 ) revealed no significant difference in aural temperature change from baseline to the end of the procedure between groups : F ( 1 , 47 ) = 1.2 , P = .28 . There were no other statistically significant differences between groups in any of the secondary outcomes . CONCLUSIONS : A short period of preoperative warming is not effective in preventing intraoperative temperature decline for women receiving intrathecal morphine . A combination of preoperative and intraoperative warming modalities may be required for this population
The results of this study suggest that preoperative warming can reduce rates of SSI after surgery .
OBJECTIVE To determine whether preoperative warming can reduce the risk of surgical site infection ( SSI ) after surgery .
BACKGROUND Intraoperative hypothermia is a risk factor for the occurrence of  SSI in patients after surgery .
However , the effectiveness of preoperative warming in reducing the incidence of the condition remains unclear .