ABSTRACT image Inadvertent hypothermia caused by redistribution of core heat after anesthesia induction is a common perioperative complication. This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether brief (five‐minute) limb‐focused warming added to whole‐body prewarming improves efficiency and attenuates redistribution hypothermia during general anesthesia. Eighty‐two adults undergoing laparoscopic lower gastrointestinal surgery were randomly assigned to a prewarming group (n = 41) or control group (n = 41). The intervention combined standard whole‐body prewarming with targeted warming of both forearms and lower legs for five minutes before anesthesia induction. Core temperature, peripheral temperature, and perfusion index were recorded at baseline and peri‐induction intervals. At 30 minutes after induction, the prewarming group had a higher median core temperature (36.8 °C versus 36.5 °C 98.2 °F versus 97.7 °F; P = .046) and a smaller decline from baseline ( P < .001), as well as higher peripheral temperature. This brief nurse‐led approach provides efficient thermal protection without delaying anesthesia induction.
Hara et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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