The application of active warming to patients whether awake or under general anesthesia has been proven safe in numerous studies and it is common practice to use warmers. The warmers are commonly used with both the supplied blankets and also with hospital blankets. Subjects receiving standard care will not benefit from this study. Subjects in the investigational group may benefit in several ways: * Increased comfort in the pre-operative period by being warmer * Decreased incidence of mild hypothermia * Possible decreased incidence of transfusion with less bleeding * Possible decreased pain and discomfort in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) * Possible shorter stay in the PACU and overall Length of Stay (LOS) * Possible decreased risk for surgical site infection
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
220
Bair Paws system uses forced-air warming. This system will be used for patients randomized to active pre-warming.
Royal Columbian Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Duration of hypothermia
The primary endpoint is duration of hypothermia as measured by the area under the curve (AUC). This is achieved by recording patient temperature readings continuously from baseline (prior to initiation of 30 minutes if active or passive pre-warming) until PACU discharge.
Time frame: Up to 12 hours, until PACU discharge
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