EFFECT OF A RADIANT HEATER ON POSTOPERATIVE HYPOTHERMIA - COMPARISON WITH A REFLECTIVE BLANKET

Thirty patients with post-operative hypothermia following major surger y (thoracic, abdominal, orthopaedic) were allocated randomly to either active warming with a radiant heater (500 W) or passive rewarming wit h a reflective blanket. Rectal temperature, mean skin temperature (at four measuring sites), continuous haemoglobin saturation and shivering were measured for 2 h post-operatively. Although post-operative heat supply with a radiant heater resulted in faster rewarming, there were no differences between the two groups with respect to haemoglobin satu ration and shivering.