Effect of intensive waterproof method on intraoperative temperature preservation of pediatric patients during liver transplantation using forced-air warming blanket

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of intensive waterproof method on intraoperative temperature preservation of pediatric patients during liver transplantation using forced-air warming blanket. Methods A total of 84 pediatric patients, who underwent liver transplantation from July 2013 to March 2015, were divided randomly into control group and experimental group, with 42 cases each. Patients in the control group received routine warming therapy using a Bair Hugger forced-air warming blanket, while patients in the experimental group, on the basis of conventional forced-air warming system, received modified warming therapy using an extended waterproof membrane to prevent the blanket and the baby from becoming wet. Body temperature at different time points between patients in the two groups was compared, including immediately after anesthesia induction, 1 h after incision, at the end of the preanhepatic stage, 30 min of anhepathic stage, immediately after reperfusion, 1 h of neohepatic stage, 2 h neohepatic stage, and at the end of the operation. Occurrence of hypothermia was also compared between the two groups. Results Temperature did not differ significantly after anesthesia induction in the experimental group (36.18±0.25) and the control group (36.15±0.24) (P>0.05) , whereas the temperatures at other time points were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05) . Incidence of hypothermia was significantly lower in the experimental group (38.1%) , than that in the control group (78.5%) (P<0.01) . Conclusions The intensive waterproof method results in better maintenance of intraoperative normothermia during pediatric liver transplantation using forced-air warming blanket. Key words: Liver transplantation; Body temperature; Infant; Forced-air warming blanket; Waterproof protection