Effect of Intravenous Fluid Warming on Body Temperature in Patients Undergoing Urologic Surgery under Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous fluid warming applied to patients under spinal anesthesia for urological surgery on body temperature, shivering, thermal discomfort and recovery room stay time. Methods: 64 patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to either the “intravenous fluid warming group” or the “blanket group”. The fluid warmer used in the “intravenous fluid warming group” was operated from anesthesia induction to recovery room exit. The data the final 60 patients(intravenous fluid warming group=30 and blanket group=30.) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, repeated-measures ANOVA, 2-test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: During surgery, 9 patients (30%) in "Intravenous fluid warming group" and 25 patients (83.3%) in “blanket group” were hypothermic (2=17.37, p<.001). During recovery from anesthesia, 20 patients (66.7%) in the "intravenous fluid warming group" and 29 patients (96.7%) in the "blanket treatment group" had hypothermia (2=9.01, p=.003). The perception of thermal discomfort was significantly lower in the 'intravenous fluid warming group' at the time of entering the recovery room (t=−4.34, p<.001) and at the time of leaving (t=−2.84, p=.006). There was no significant difference in shivering and recovery room stay time between the two groups. Conclusion: In urological surgery under spinal anesthesia, application of an intravenous fluid warmer rather than covering the patient was more effective at increasing body temperature and reducing thermal discomfort, but did not prevent hypothermia. Therefore, additional studies on effective hypothermia prevention methods are needed.