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

• Main Authors: Hye Young Kim, Kyu Chang Lee, Myeong Jong Lee, Mi-Na Kim, Ji-Sub Kim, Won Sang Lee, Jung Hwa Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Anesthesiologists 2014-05-01
• Series: Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
• Subjects: shivering; spinal anesthesia; temperature
• Online Access: http://ekja.org/upload/pdf/kjae-66-352.pdf

BackgroundIn 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.MethodsForty-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.ResultsCore 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.ConclusionsThe 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.