Clinical Trial: Preoperative Warming Prevents Postoperative Hypothermia in Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery. A Randomized Control Trial

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Preoperative Active Warming Prevents Postoperative Hypothermia in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery. A Randomized Control Trial

Brief Summary: This study examined whether 20 minutes of prewarming prior to gynecological laparoscopic surgery prevented inadvertent post-operative hypothermia. Treatment group received prewarming using a forced air body warming, control group received no active warming system. Both groups were then warmed with forced air warmer intraoperatively.

Detailed Summary: Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is a well known perioperative complication. The behavioural response to hypothermia is the most powerful protective tool, more effective than any autonomic response, and is obviously removed in the operative setting. Anesthesia alters thermoregulation by profoundly changing the thresholds for vasoconstriction and shivering, making patients vulnerable to the adverse outcomes related to mild hypothermia. Inadvertent postoperative hypothermia can occur in up to 70% of surgical patients. It is defined as a core temperature below 36°C (96.8°F). The aim of this study was to determine if prewarming with an active warming system for 20 minutes preoperatively could prevent postoperative inadvertent hypothermia.
Sponsor: Toronto East General Hospital

Current Primary Outcome: Oral temperature immediately postoperatively [ Time Frame: Immediately post-operatively ]

Immediate postoperative oral temperature on admission to the post-anesthetic care unit.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Oral temperature 30 minutes postoperatively [ Time Frame: 30 min after admission to post-anesthetic care unit ]
    Oral temperature 30 minutes after admission to the post-anesthetic care unit.
  • Oral temperature at discharge from post-anesthetic care unit [ Time Frame: Discharge from post-anesthetic care unit (average 99 minutes) ]
    Oral temperature upon discharge from the post-anesthetic care unit.
  • 11-point Pain score [ Time Frame: 30 min after admission to post-anesthetic care unit ]
    11-point VAS pain score postoperatively measured 30 minutes after admission to the post-anesthetic care unit


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Toronto East General Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: July 22, 2015
Date Started: May 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 5, 2015
Last Verified: August 2015