Meta-analysis: effectiveness of forced-air warming for prevention of perioperative hypothermia in surgical patients

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of forced-air warming for preventing perioperative hypothermia. Background. Perioperative hypothermia commonly occurs in patients receiving anaesthesia during surgeries. However, the effectiveness of warming systems requires verification. Design. Systematic review incorporating meta-analysis. Data sources. We searched OVID, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, CINAHL, CETD and CEPS databases (2001-2015) for randomized controlled trials published in English and Chinese. Outcome measures of interests were body temperature and thermal comfort. Review methods. Cochrane methods, Quality of evidence (GRADE) assessments and Jadad Quality Score were used. Results. Twenty-nine trials (1875 patients) met inclusion criteria, including seven trials (502 patients) related to thermal comfort. Results showed that: (1) forced-air warming was more effective than passive insulation and circulating-water mattresses; (2) there was no statistically significant difference among forced-air warming, resistive heating blankets, radiant warming systems and circulating-water garments; and (3) that thermal comfort provided by forced-air warming was superior to that of passive insulation, resistive heating blankets and radiant warming systems, but inferior to that of circulating-water mattresses. Conclusions. Forced-air warming prevents perioperative hypothermia more effectively than passive insulation and circulating-water mattresses, whereas there is no statistically significant difference in its effectiveness compared with circulating-water garments, resistive heating blankets and radiant warming systems.