Korean J Anesthesiol.  2014 May;66(5):352-357. 10.4097/kjae.2014.66.5.352.

Comparison of the efficacy of a forced-air warming system and circulating-water mattress on core temperature and post-anesthesia shivering in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia

• Kim HY
• Lee KC
• Lee MJ
• Kim MN
• Kim JS
• Lee WS
• Lee JH

• KMID: 1937753
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2014.66.5.352

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In the present study, we compared changes in body temperature and the occurrence of shivering in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia during warming with either a forced-air warming system or a circulating-water mattress.
METHODS
Forty-six patients were randomly assigned to either the forced-air warming system (N = 23) or circulating-water mattress (N = 23) group. Core temperature was recorded using measurements at the tympanic membrane and rectum. In addition, the incidence and intensity of post-anesthesia shivering and verbal analogue score for thermal comfort were simultaneously assessed.
RESULTS
Core temperature outcomes did not differ between the groups. The incidence (13.0 vs 43.5%, P < 0.05) and intensity (20/2/1/0/0 vs 13/5/3/2/0, P < 0.05) of post-anesthesia shivering was significantly lower in the forced-air system group than in the circulating-water mattress group.
CONCLUSIONS
The circulating-water mattress was as effective as the forced-air warming system for maintaining body temperature. However, the forced-air warming system was superior to the circulating-water mattress in reducing the incidence of post-anesthesia shivering.

Keyword

Shivering; Spinal anesthesia; Temperature

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Anesthesia, Spinal*
Arthroplasty*
Body Temperature
Humans
Incidence
Knee*
Rectum
Shivering*
Tympanic Membrane