Author(s)

J. E Teodorczyk, J. H Heijmans, W. N. K. A. van Mook, D. C. J. J. Bergmans, P. M. H. J. Roekaerts

Department of Anesthesiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands..
Department of Intensive Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Introduction: Perioperative hypothermia in cardiac surgery is associated with adverse outcome. The aim of this investigation was to study whether an underbody forced-air warming blanket during coronary artery bypass graft surgery with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass can prevent postoperative hypothermia. Methods: After Medical Ethics Committee approval, 60 low-risk cardiac surgery patients at random were assigned into a group that received standard thermal care management (control group n = 30) and a group that received the underbody forced-air warming system plus the standard thermal care (intervention group n = 30). Results: The temperature after-drop from the end of cardiopulmonary bypass to arrival in the ICU was less in the intervention group versus control group (0.4°C ± 0.3°C vs 0.6°C ± 0.4°C; P = 0.027). Out of the intervention group, 27 patients arrived in the ICU with a bladder temperature ? 36°C (90%) as compared to 14 patients (46.7%) from the control group (P < 0.001). The peripheral temperature was significantly higher in the intervention group as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: A full underbody forced-air warming blanket prevents postoperative hypothermia in normothermic coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients.

Cardiac Surgery; Anesthesia; Temperature Monitoring; Peri Operative

J. Teodorczyk, J. Heijmans, W. Mook, D. Bergmans and P. Roekaerts, "Effectiveness of an Underbody Forced Warm-Air Blanket during Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in the Prevention of Postoperative Hypothermia: A Prospective Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial," Open Journal of Anesthesiology, Vol. 2 No. 3, 2012, pp. 65-69. doi: 10.4236/ojanes.2012.23016.