Convection heating in pediatric general surgery - a comparison of warming alternatives in a mannequin study |
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Authors: | Nightingale Scott Wynne Lisa Cassey John |
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Institution: | Department of Paediatrics, John Hunter Hospital, NSW, Australia. |
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Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Numerous methods of patient warming are used to prevent intraoperative hypothermia in children. Commercially available forced air warming blankets are effective, but are single-use items. We tested a custom-designed heat dissipation unit (HDU) against one such commercially available blanket. METHODS: Air temperatures at various points around a mannequin under simulated operating conditions were recorded using thermistors and thermal imaging. The only variable changed was the heating method: a forced air blanket or a customized HDU with two draping techniques - cotton drapes with and without a plastic 'undersheet'. RESULTS: The three methods produced similar temperature increases and plateaux across the 11 thermistor points measured. There were no significant differences between temperatures at 1 h. A plastic sheet did not appear to enhance the effectiveness of the HDU in this study. Thermal imaging photography suggested more uniform heating of the mannequin with the HDU arrangements. CONCLUSIONS: The custom-built HDU compares favorably in our mannequin study with a Bair Hugger forced air warming blanket. As it is reusable, it offers considerable potential savings. |
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Keywords: | anesthesia hypothermia forced air warmer |
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