Comparison of the effect of insulated and noninsulated head covers on heat loss during abdominal surgery

Abstract

Hypothermia is experienced by all patients undergoing major surgical procedures. Hypothermia can lead to postoperative complications affecting oxygenation with neurologic, immunologic, and metabolic consequences. Current methods of heat conservation used in the operating room include blanket warmers, fluid warmers, and anesthesia circuit warmers. These methods are often inadequate at maintaining a patient's body temperature. The current study used a post-test-only control group design. Subjects in the treatment group had an insulated head cover applied within 1 minute of arrival in the operating room, while those in the control group did not. All subjects had routine heat conservation measures (blanket warmers, fluid warmers, and anesthesia circuit humidifiers). Following induction of anesthesia, subjects' temperatures were measured using an esophageal stethoscope with thermistor probe at 10 and 70 minutes. Results showed no significant differences between groups at either time point.