Warmed humidified inspired oxygen accelerates postoperative rewarming

Study Objective: To investigate the efficacy of warmed, humidified inspired oxygen (O-2) for the treatment of mildly hypothermic postoperative patient s. Design: Prospective, randomized, unblinded clinical trial. Setting: Postanesthesia care unit in a tertiary care hospital Patients and Interventions: 30 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients following intraabdominal surgical procedures were randomly assigned to rece ive either routine O-2 therapy (control group, n = 15), or warmed (42 degre es C) humidified O-2 (treatment group, n = 15)for the initial 90 postoperat ive minutes. Measurements: Core (tympanic) temperature, dry month score and shivering sc ore. Main Results: Tympanic temperature was similar in both groups on admission (approximate to 35.8 degrees C). Rewarming rate in the first postoperative hour was greater in the treatment group (0.7 +/- 0.1 degrees C . hr(-1)) co mpared to the control group (0.4 +/- 0.1 degrees C . hr(-1)) (p = 0.03). Pa tients receiving the warmed humidified O-2 had a lower incidence of dry mou th compared to the control group (p = 0.03). The incidence of shivering was lord and similar in both groups. Conclusions: Warming and humidifying inspired O-2 hastens recovery from hyp othermia in postoperative patients. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.