The effect of forced-air warming in the cesarean section on maternal hypothermia, shivering, and thermal comfort: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

This trial was carried out to investigate the effect of forced air warming in various body areas of women on hypothermia during cesarean delivery. The patients in the study groups (n = 76) were assigned to the full-body warming group, upper-extremity warming group, lower-extremity warming group, and control groups. The intervention groups received forced-air warming 30 min before the surgery and continued until 30 min after surgery. The incidence of hypothermia was significantly higher in the control group than in the other groups at the 60th minute of the operation (p < 0.01). The intervention and control groups showed significant differences in the frequency of shivering at the entrance to the PACU (p = 0.001). Thermal comfort scores have significant difference between the control group and all of the intervention groups (p<.001). It is said that the full-body forced-air warming technique prevents hypothermia, shivering, and thermal discomfort in women Cesarean Section (CS).

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all of the mothers who agreed to participate in this study.

Ethical approval

The present study adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. It was approved by the institutional review board of Hacettepe University Hospital. The study was approved by the Clinical Researches Ethics Boards of Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. Written informed consent was obtained from women after they had agreed to participate in the study, and the patients were informed that if they did not want to continue they could withdraw from the study at any time without stating a reason. Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency also approved the devices used in the study. This study is supported by Hacettepe University, BAP (Scientific Research Project Unit).

Author contributions

CAT, CYO and OO designed the study. CAT collected the data. CAT and CYO analyzed the data. CAT and CYO prepared the manuscript. All authors approved the final version for submission.

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by Hacettepe University, BAP (Scientific Research Project Unit).