WARMING INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS REDUCES PERIOPERATIVE HYPOTHERMIA IN WOMENUNDERGOING AMBULATORY GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY

We evaluated whether warming IV fluids resulted in less hypothermia (c ore temperature <35.5 degrees C) compared with room-temperature fluids . Thirty-eight adult outpatients undergoing elective gynecological sur gery of >30 min were randomized to two groups: fluid warming at 42 deg rees C or control (room temperature fluids at approximately 21 degrees C). All patients received general anesthesia with isoflurane, trachea l intubation, standard operating room blankets and surgical drapes, an d passive humidification of inspired gases. Tympanic membrane (core) t emperatures were measured at baseline and at 15-min intervals after in duction. The incidence of shivering and postoperative requirement for meperidine and/or radiant heat were evaluated. Core temperatures were lower in the control compared with the warm fluid group at the end of surgery (35.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C vs 36.2 +/- 0.1 degrees C; P < 0.05). More patients had final core temperature <35.5 degrees C in the contro l compared with the warm fluid group (35% vs 0%; P < 0.05). There were no differences in time to discharge from the postanesthesia care unit or the incidence of shivering between the groups. We conclude that fl uid warming, in conjunction with standard heat conservation measures, was effective in maintaining normothermia during outpatient gynecologi cal surgery; however, there was no improvement in patient outcome. Imp lications: Women who received IV fluid at body temperature had signifi cantly higher core temperatures during and after outpatient gynecologi cal surgery compared with women who received TV fluids at the temperat ure of the operating room.