Anesth Pain Med.  2016 Apr;11(2):211-216. 10.17085/apm.2016.11.2.211.

Effect of electrically heated humidifier on intraoperative core body temperature decrease in elderly patients: a prospective observational study

• Seo H
• Kim K
• Oh EA
• Moon YJ
• Kim YK
• Hwang JH

• KMID: 2358488
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2016.11.2.211

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Core body temperature (TC) can decrease during general anesthesia. Particularly in elderly patients, more aggressive strategies to prevent intraoperative hypothermia may be required. Here, we investigated the effect of a heated humidifier on intraoperative TC decrease in the elderly.
METHODS
Twenty-four elderly patients were randomly assigned into two groups: those who used a heated humidifier (group H) and those who used a conventional ventilator circuit with a heat moisture exchanger (group C). TC was measured continuously at the esophagus at several time-points during surgery.
RESULTS
In group C, TC significantly decreased 90 minutes after skin incision (P < 0.001), while significant differences were not noted in group H during surgery. Comparing the two groups, TC decreased more in group C than in group H at 60, 90, 120, and 150 minutes after skin incision (group C vs. group H: -0.6℃ vs. -0.3℃, P = 0.025; -0.7℃ vs. -0.4℃, P = 0.012; -0.9℃ vs. -0.4℃, P = 0.006; and -1.0℃ vs. -0.5℃, P = 0.013, respectively). There were no significant differences between the two groups for any other parameters.
CONCLUSIONS
A heated humidifier is more effective in preventing intraoperative TC decrease in elderly patients than a heat moisture exchanger. However, further studies with a larger population are required to substantiate its clinical use.

Keyword

Body temperature; Closed circuit anesthesia; Heating; Humidity; Hypothermia

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit
Anesthesia, General
Body Temperature*
Esophagus
Heating
Hot Temperature*
Humans
Humidity
Hypothermia
Observational Study*
Prospective Studies*
Skin
Ventilators, Mechanical

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Core body temperature change in group C and group H. In group C (using heat moisture exchanger, light-gray box), the core body temperature significantly decreased compared to the baseline values at 90, 120, and 150 minutes after skin incision, but in group H (using heated humidifier, dark gray box), the core body temperature did not significantly change at these time-points compared to baseline. In the vertical box-plot, the median value is indicated by a horizontal line in the box, and the upper/lower ends of the box indicate the interquartile range. *P < 0.05, compared to the baseline value, †P < 0.05, compared between group C and group H.

• 

  Fig. 2 Intraoperative skin temperature in group C and group H. Between group C (using heat moisture exchanger, light-gray box) and group H (using heated humidifier, dark gray box), there were no differences in skin temperature at any time-point. In the vertical box-plot, the median value is indicated by a horizontal line in the box, and the upper/lower ends of the box indicate the interquartile range.

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