Preoperative forced-air warming is one way of preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia. There is scant evidence, however, on the best warming method or the acceptability of these methods to patients. This pilot study compared two warming protocols: one that commenced at maximum temperature and was titrated down as requested (A) and one that commenced at near body temperature and was titrated up as tolerated (B). A crossover design was used in which each participant (n = 10) received both protocols sequentially. The mean device temperature and length of time spent at maximum settings were greater for protocol A (43°C ± 0°C vs 41°C ± l°C, P = .003; and 60 ± vs 41.5 ± 2.8 minutes, P = . 004). There was no difference in thermal comfort scores, participant temperature, or sweating between the two protocols. When asked, participants preferred protocol A to B (70% to 30%). Starting at higher device settings appears the more favorable of the two approaches.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	unplanned perioperative hypothermia, pre-warming methods, research, inadvertent perioperative hypothermia, forced-air warming, preoperative warming methods
Research Division:	Health Sciences
Research Group:	Nursing
Research Field:	Nursing not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Provision of health and support services
Objective Field:	Nursing
UTAS Author:	Duff, J (Dr Jed Duff)
UTAS Author:	Walker, K (Professor Kim Walker)
ID Code:	87097
Year Published:	2012
Web of Science® Times Cited:	10
Deposited By:	Health Sciences B
Deposited On:	2013-11-07
Last Modified:	2014-06-19
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