The effect of forced-air warming blanket position during spinal surgery on patients’ intra-operative body temperature

Abstract

BACKGROUND : The use of body-warming systems is recommended by international anaesthesia societies for patients undergoing surgery. Limited research is however available on the influence of positioning of forced-air warming blankets for patients undergoing spinal surgery. This study aimed to investigate how patients’ intra-operative body temperature was affected by the position of forced-air warming blankets while undergoing spinal surgery on a spinal table. DESIGN : A randomized comparative experimental study was conducted with 60 adult patients undergoing posterior spinal surgery. METHODS : Patients were randomized into full underbody (n = 30) or surgical access (n = 30) forced-air warming blanket groups. Intra-operative body temperature was recorded at regular time intervals. The student's T-test, Chi-square, and MANOVA tests were performed to determine the differences between the two groups. RESULTS : Intraoperative hypothermia was significantly lower in the full underbody group than in the surgical access group (p = 0.020). The change in body temperature differed significantly between the two groups from 15 min until 240 min, with a mean difference of 0.5 °C. CONCLUSION : The full underbody position of the forced-air warming blanket was effective for maintaining normal range core body temperature. The use of full underbody forced-air warming blanket for spinal surgery when patients are positioned on a spinal table in a prone position is recommended.