The effect of forced air warming on postoperative oxygen consumption and temperature in elective orthopaedic surgery

Abstract

Actively warming patients during surgery is considered the best method of preventing inadvertent hypothermia. In order to investigate the effect of forced air warming on postoperative oxygen consumption, we studied 26 patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery using a prospective, randomized trial design. We measured oxygen consumption, carbon oxide production, temperature, thermal comfort and pain scores. Apart from intraoperative temperature, there were no significant differences in these measurements between the two groups. This study demonstrated the gradual heat gain and also the potential for hyperthermia from pre- and intraoperative forced air warming. We conclude that forced air warming is not necessary for moderate duration non-body-cavity surgery if effective preinduction covering of patients and minimal surgical exposure is achieved.