The effect of different temperature setting of forced-air warming system on the prevention of hypothermia during laparotomy of infants

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of different temperature of the forced-air warming system on the prevention of hypothermia during laparotomy of infants. Methods A total of 60 infants undergoing laparotomy under general anesthesia were recruited and divided into three groups by random digits table method with 20 cases each according to admitting time; when used the force-air warming system intraoperatively, the three groups were respectively setting on 45℃(automatic adjustment for 43 ℃ after 45 minutes), 43 ℃ and 38 ℃.The core temperature were respectively recorded before anesthesia and 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes after anesthesia (every 30 minutes after 1 hour).The hypothermia incidence and anesthesia recovery conditions were recorded simultaneously. Results There was no significant difference on the core temperature among three groups before anesthesia (P > 0.05). 30 minutes after the anesthetic, the core temperature of 45 ℃ group was (36.31±0.20) ℃,43 ℃ group was (36.32±0.24) ℃ and 38 ℃ group was (36.08±0.21) ℃.The differences among three groups was statistically significant (F=8.12, P 0.05). 60 minutes after the anesthetic, the core temperature of 45 ℃ group was (36.39±0.26) ℃,43 ℃ group was (36.19±0.22) ℃ and 38 ℃ group was (35.92±0.15) ℃. The differences among three groups was statistically significant(F=25.19, P<0.01).The hypothermia incidence of 45℃group, 43℃ group,38℃ group was 10.0%(2/20), 25.0%(5/20), 50.0%(10/20) respectively and the differences among three groups was statistically significant(χ2=8.04, P<0.05). The time to complete consciousness of 45 ℃ group was (15.40±5.09) minutes,43 ℃ group was (19.80±4.10) minutes and 38 ℃ group was (22.00±4.36) minutes. The differences among three groups was statistically significant(F=10.96, P<0.01). The time to tracheal extubation of 45 ℃ group was (18.10±5.97) minutes, 43 ℃ group was (21.85±4.02) minutes and 38 ℃ group was (24.90±5.54) minutes.The differences among three groups was statistically significant (F=9.83, P<0.01). Conclusions The forced-air warming system can increase the infants' peripheral tissue heat content and reduce the heat losing.So that it will help decrease the intraoperative hypothermia incidence and shorten the anesthesia recovery period.Meanwhile the higher temperature of the forced-air warming system is setted ,the better effect it is. Key words: Infant; Intraoperative care; Body temperature regulation; Laparotomy