Effect of different covering methods of inflatable heating blanket on the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing photoselective vaporization of the prostate

Abstract

Background and purpose: The use of lavage fluid during photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) may result in perioperative hypothermia. Inflatable warming blankets was used to prevent intraoperative hypothermia (IPH). The authors aimed to evaluate the warming blanket placing above or beneath the patients’ body on IPH in PVP. Method: Sixty patients undergoing PVP were randomized into two groups (Underneath group or Above group, with the heating blanket placed beneath or above their body). Nasopharyngeal temperature was measured as core body temperature. The patient’s temperature was recorded at the time of anesthesia induction (T0), at 15 (T15), 30 (T30), 45 (T45), 60 (T60), and 75 min (T75) during surgery. The duration of operation, the volume of intraoperative fluid irrigation, occurrence of postoperative hypothermia, and chills were also documented. Results: Forty-five minutes after the initiation of warming blanket application, a decrease in body temperature was observed in both groups. The lowest temperature in the Underneath group was 35.81°C±0.17°C at T60. At time points T30, T45, T60, and T75, patients’ body temperature of the Above group was significantly higher than that of the Underneath group (P<0.05). The incidence of IPH was higher in the Underneath group (P<0.05). Postoperative chills were reported in seven patients from the Underneath group and three patients from the Above group (P>0.05). Discussion and conclusion: In patients receiving PVP placing the heating warming blanket above patients seems to be a more effective approach to decrease the occurrence of postoperative hypothermia.