J Cardiovasc Surg
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Reduction of postoperative hypothermia with a new warming device: a prospective randomized study in off-pump coronary artery surgery.
Hypothermia has been used for decades in cardiac surgery to limit the ischemic insult to the heart. With the diffusion of off-pump coronary artery surgery, the practice of arresting and cooling the heart has been abandoned. At University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, we tested a new warming device by performing a prospective study in which 50 patients were randomized to either the use of the Kimberly-Clark warming system or to standard methods of control of body temperature. ⋯ The Kimberly-Clark Patient Warming System allowed for better control of core body temperature during off pump coronary artery bypass surgery compared to traditional techniques. This translated in less intra and postoperative blood loss and shorter hospital length of stay. Other advantages, such as decreased blood-products transfusions, decreased incidence of infections, decreased ICU length of stay and overall reduction of costs might be evident on larger study groups.