Background/Aim. Hypothermia in surgical patients can be the consequence of
long duration of surgical intervention, general anaesthesia and low
temperature in operating room. Postoperative hypothermia contributes to a
number of postoperative complications such as arrhythmia, myocardial
ischemia, hypertension, bleeding, wound infection, coagulopathy, and
prolonged effect of muscle relaxants. External heating procedures are used to
prevent this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency
of external warming system in alleviation of cold stress and hypothermia in
patients who underwent major surgical procedures. Methods. The study was
conducted in the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. A total of 30 patients
of both genders underwent abdominal surgical procedures, randomly divided
into two equal groups: the one was externally warmed using warm air mattress
(W), while in the control group (C) surgical procedure was performed in
regular conditions, without additional warming. Oesophageal temperature (Te)
was used as indicator of changes in core temperature, during surgery and
awakening postoperative period, and temperature of control sites on the right
hand (Th) and the right foot (Tf) reflected the changes in skin temperatures
during surgery. Te and skin temperatures were monitored during the
intraoperative period, with continuous measurement of Te during the following
90 minutes of the postoperative period. Heart rates and blood pressures were
monitored continuously during the intraoperative and awakening period.
Results. In the W group, the average Te, Tf and Th did not change
significantly during the intraoperative as well as the postoperative period.
In the controls, the average Te significantly decreased during the
intraoperative period (from 35.61 ? 0.35?C at 0 minute to 33.86 ? 0.51?C at
120th minute). Compared to the W group, Te in the C group was significantly
lower in all the observed periods. Average values of Tf and Th significantly
decreased in the C group (from 30.83 ? 1.85 at 20th minute to 29.0 ? 1.39?C
at 120th minute, and from 32.75 ? 0.96 to 31.05 ? 1.09?C, respectively).
Conclusion. The obtained results confirm that the external warming using warm
air mattress was able to attenuate hypothermia, i.e. substantial decrease in
core temperature, compared with the similar exposure to cold stress in the
control group.