Water warming garment versus forced air warming system in prevention of intraoperative hypothermia during liver transplantation: A randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN32154832]

Piotr K. Janicki, Cristina Stoica, William C. Chapman, J. Kelly Wright, Garry Walker, Ram Pai, Ann Walia, Mias Pretorius, C. Wright Pinson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The authors compared two strategies for the maintenance of intraoperative normothermia during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT): the routine forced-air warming system and the newly developed, whole body water garment. Methods: In this prospective, randomized and open-labelled study, 24 adult patients were enrolled in one of two intraoperative temperature management groups during OLT. The water-garment group (N = 12) received warming with a body temperature (esophageal) set point of 36.8°C. The forced air-warmer group (N = 12) received routine warming therapy using upper- and lower-body forced-air warming system. Body core temperature (primary outcome) was recorded intraoperatively and during the two hours after surgery in both groups. Results: The mean core temperatures during incision, one hour after incision and during the skin closing were significantly higher (p < 0.05, t test with Bonferroni corrections for the individual tests) in the water warmer group compared to the control group (36.7 ± 0.1, 36.7 ± 0.2, 36.8 ± 0.1 vs 36.1 ± 0.4, 36.1 ± 0.4, 36.07 ± 0.4°C, respectively). Moreover, significantly higher core temperatures were observed in the water warmer group than in the control group during the placement of cold liver allograft (36.75 ± 0.17 vs 36.09 ± 0.38°C, respectively) and during the allograft reperfusion period (36.3 ± 0.26 vs 35.52 ± 0.42°C, respectively). In addition, the core temperatures immediately after admission to the SICU (36.75 ± 0.13 vs 36.22 ± 0.3°C, respectively) and at one hr (36.95 ± 0.13 vs 36.46 ± 0.2°C, respectively) were significantly higher in the water warmer group, compared to the control group, whereas the core temperature did not differ significantly afte two hours in ICU in both groups. Conclusions: The investigated water warming system results in better maintenance of intraoperative normothermia than routine air forced warming applied to upper- and lower body.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number7
JournalBMC Anesthesiology
Volume2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 19 2002

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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