Our orders are delivered strictly on time without delay
In adults’ patients undergoing general anesthesia, does forced-air warming before or during induction compared to passive blanket warming decrease incidence of hypothermia and improve intraoperative blood pressure stability during intraoperative period through PACU discharge?
Forced-air warming (FAW) used before or during the induction of general anesthesia, compared to passive blanket warming, appears to decrease the incidence of perioperative hypothermia in adult patients.1
Hypothermia Prevention: Studies comparing active warming (including FAW) to passive warming consistently show that active warming is superior in preventing or reducing the incidence of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (defined as core body temperature 2$< 36.0^{\circ}\text{C}$).3
Specifically, pre-induction FAW (prewarming) and peri-induction FAW (warming during the induction period) have been found to significantly reduce the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative hypothermia compared to passive warming.4 This is because prewarming counteracts the rapid heat redistribution from the core to the periphery that occurs shortly after the induction of general anesthesia.5
Blood Pressure Stability (Hypotension): One study indicated that preoperative forced-air warming reduced the incidence of hypotension (low blood pressure) during the induction period compared to unwarmed patients. Hypotension is a common risk during anesthesia induction and hypothermia can exacerbate it. By maintaining normothermia, warming may help stabilize blood pressure.
PACU Discharge: By reducing the incidence and severity of hypothermia, prewarming or peri-induction FAW may also lead to a faster recovery and earlier readiness for discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), as hypothermia can prolong PACU stay due to complications like shivering.
In summary, the best available evidence supports the use of active forced-air warming, particularly starting before or during induction, to better maintain normothermia ($> 36.0^{\circ}\text{C}$) and potentially improve hemodynamic stability during the perioperative period compared to passive warming.
This video offers practical tips on how to implement prewarming effectively in the operating room workflow: Prewarming during General Anesthesia.
Would you like to compare the efficacy of forced-air warming with another active warming method, such as a resistive heating blanket?