Preoperative prewarming as a routine measure. First experiences

Despite the broad application of intraoperative warming new studies still show a high incidence of perioperative hypothermia. Therefore a prewarming program in the preoperative holding area was started. The efficacy of the prewarming program was assessed with an accompanying quality assurance check sheet over a period of 3 months. During the 3 month test period 127 patients were included. The median length from arrival in the holding area to beginning prewarming was 6 min and the average duration of prewarming was 46 +/- 38 min. During prewarming the core temperature rose by 0.3 +/- 0.4A degrees C to 37.1 +/- 0.5A degrees C and decreased to 36.3 +/- 0.5A degrees C after induction of anesthesia. At the end of the operation the core temperature was 36.4 +/- 0.5A degrees C and 14% of the patients were hypothermic. These data allow 2 conclusions: 1. Prewarming in the holding area is possible with a sufficient duration. 2. Prewarming is highly efficient even when performed over a relatively short duration.