AORN journal
-
Comparative Study
Comparing new-technology passive warming versus traditional passive warming methods for optimizing perioperative body core temperature.
Hypothermia puts surgical patients at risk for adverse outcomes. Traditional passive warming methods are mostly ineffective in reducing hypothermia. New-technology passive warming holds promise as an effective method for promoting and sustaining normothermia throughout surgery. ⋯ The traditionally warmed cohort had no change in temperature (35.9° C ± 0.6° C presurgery vs 35.9° C ± 0.7° C postsurgery; t = 0.47; P = .66). The intervention cohort showed a significant increase in temperature (35.75° C ± 0.52° C presurgery vs 36.30° C ± 0.53° C postsurgery; t = 4.64; P < .001). A repeated-measure analysis of variance adjusting for surgery duration and fluid administration confirmed the significance (F = 17.254; P < .001), suggesting that new-technology passive warming may effectively complement active warming to reduce perioperative hypothermia.