ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of two different warming patterns on body temperature changes in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Methods A total of 60 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,with 30 cases in each group.In the observation group,the warming blanket was set at 38℃ in an intermittent warming pattern, i.e. every 1 hour heating period was followed by a 40 min interval.In the control group,the warming blanket was set at 38℃in a continuous warming pattern.Anal temperature was continuously monitored during operation to compare the preventive effects of the two warming patterns on hypothermia. Results Anal temperature changes were recorded at 8 time points including pre-anesthesia, the beginning of operation, 30 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min after the beginning of operation, completion of operation (after skin closure) and recovery of consciousness. The observation group were(36.68±0.34)℃,(36.69±0.41)℃,(36.60±0.37)℃,(36.54±0.40 )℃,(36.53± 0.49) ℃, (36.50 ± 0.58) ℃, (36.49 ± 0.61) ℃, (36.53 ± 0.52) ℃, the control group were (36.76 ± 0.43) ℃, (36.64±0.40)℃,(36.50±0.39)℃,(36.45±0.41)℃,(36.51±0.52)℃,(36.65±0.42)℃,(36.65±0.44)℃, (36.69±0.44)℃.There were no statistical differences in anal temperature at all time points between the two groups (t=-1.332~1.083, P>0.05). In addition, the comparison of post-operation shivering, skin injury,recovery time of consciousness post-anesthesia,the observation group were,16.67%(5/30),0(0/30), (10.13±6.51)min,the control group were,10.00%(3/30),10.00%(3/30),(10.07±7.49)min,there were not significantly difference between two groups(P>0.05).However,the incidence of sweating during operation in the control group was higher than that of the observation group (χ2=4.286, P<0.05), the observation group was 0(0/30),the control group was 13.33%(4/30). Conclusions Application of warming blanket in an intermittent warming pattern showed a similar preventive effect on hypothermia as the continuous warming pattern in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Moreover, intermittent warming reduced the incidences of sweating and skin injury during operation,reduce health care costs.