Effect of irrigation fluid temperature on core body temperature and inflammatory response during arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the influence of irrigation fluid on the patients' physiological response to arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Patients who were scheduled for arthroscopic shoulder surgery were prospectively included in this study. They were randomly assigned to receive warm arthroscopic irrigation fluid (Group W, n=33) or room temperature irrigation fluid (Group RT, n=33) intraoperatively. Core body temperature was measured at regular intervals. The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured in drainage fluid and serum. The changes of core body temperatures in Group RT were similar with those in Group W within 15min after induction of anesthesia, but the decreases in Group RT were significantly greater after then. The lowest temperature was 35.1±0.4°C in Group RT and 35.9±0.3°C in Group W, the difference was statistically different (P<0.05). Hypothermia occurred in 31 out of 33 subjects in Group RT (31/33; 94%), but was significantly lower in Group W (9/24; 27%; P<0.05). Serum TNF-α changes were undetectable postoperatively. No statistical significant differences in serum IL-1 and serum IL-10 levels were observed between groups. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly lower in Group W (P<0.05). The levels of the above cytokines in drainage fluid were all significantly lower in Group W after surgery (P<0.05). Hypothermia occurs more often in arthroscopic shoulder surgery by using room temperature irrigation fluid compared with warm irrigation fluid. And local inflammatory response is significantly reduced by using warm irrigation fluid. It seems that warm irrigation fluid is more recommendable for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.