Der Anaesthesist
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Postoperative warming therapy in the recovery room. A comparison of radiative and convective warmers].
Hypothermia (Tcore < 36 degrees C) can be observed in 60%-80% of all admissions to the post-anaesthetic recovery unit. Effective warming devices may accelerate rewarming, improve patient comfort, and suppress shivering thermogenesis. This study was designed to compare the efficiency of warming devices in extubated postoperative patients and their effect on postoperative oxygen uptake (VO2). ⋯ External rewarming did not reduce the average load (mean VO2). Thus, concerning the goal of accelerating rewarming, it appears more rational to prevent intraoperative heat loss. For a comparison of efficiency of different warming devices, postoperative extubated patients do not appear to be an ideal model for study.