HEAT RETENTION USING PASSIVE SYSTEMS DURING ANESTHESIA - COMPARISON OF 2 PLASTIC WRAPS, ONE WITH REFLECTIVE PROPERTIES

Hypothermia during prolonged surgery may be prevented by active and pa ssive warming methods. We have compared randomly two types of occlusiv e body wraps in groups of 20 patients. One wrap had additional reflect ive properties which, by reducing radiative in addition to convective and evaporative heat loss, was expected to improve heat conservation. Patients were studied during hepatopancreatobiliary surgery and both g roups were similar in characteristics. Skin and core body temperatures increased and core temperature exceeded 37 degrees C in 40% of patien ts in both groups. This continuous increase in temperature was unexpec ted and the observed heat gain may have been stimulated endogenously b y the type of surgery rather than that supplied externally. Overall, m ean hourly heat gain was similar in both groups: 71 (SD 28) kJ h(-1) i n the reflective group and 67 (33) kJ h(-1) in the other group.