Prospective evaluation of nonporous wrap fails to minimize inadvertent perianesthetic hypothermia in healthy canine patients undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

To prospectively evaluate a nonporous wrap's ability to prevent inadvertent perianesthetic hypothermia (IPH) in canines undergoing ovariohysterectomy. All client-owned canines and felines undergoing ovariohysterectomy performed by preclinical veterinary students at Michigan State University between November 2022 and November 2023 were prospectively enrolled into 1 of 4 treatment groups using block randomization. Patients were excluded if they were unamenable to rectal temperatures, had a body temperature ≥ 103.5 °F (39.7 °C), had incomplete medical records, or were a feline. All patients received intraoperative active warming via a circulating warm water blanket (AW). Experimental treatment groups were supplemented with nonporous wrap placed to either the distal extremities (AW+Limbs), around the head (AW+Head), or to the distal extremities and head (AW+Limbs+Head). Core temperatures were monitored from intubation to extubation. Normality was verified with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Analysis included ANOVA/ANCOVA and regression. Continuous variables were centered for analysis. 50 canines were enrolled. No statistically significant difference in preventing IPH with the use of supplemental nonporous wrap was identified. The decreases in rectal temperatures were 3.8 °F (AW), 3.7 °F (AW+Limbs), 5.3 °F (AW+Head), and 4.1 °F (AW+Limbs+Head). No intraoperative or postoperative complications associated with wrap placement were reported. Placing nonporous wrap on canines undergoing ovariohysterectomy resulted in no statistically significant benefit in combating IPH. Supplementing active warming with a nonporous wrap placed to enable evaluation of a blink reflex cannot be recommended at this time.