Effect of Head Insulation on the Total Time Required to Rewarm Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Patients.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between head insulation and the length of time required to rewarm postoperative cardiac surgery patients when it is employed as an adjunct to conventional methods used to restore body heat after induced hypothermia. Physiological researchers revealed the absence of vasoconstrictor reflexes in the head and demonstrated significant heat loss from this area of the body (Froese and Burton, 1957; Hertzman and Roth, 1942; Shvartz, 1970). Three investigators (Biddle and Biddle, 1985; Morgester, 1987) demonstrated clinically and statistically significant decreases in heat loss during the intraoperative and postoperative periods with use of head insulation. Other investigators (Erickson and Yount, 1991; Howell et al., 1992) reported no beneficial effect from head insulation for abdominal or cardiac surgery patients during the perioperative or postoperative period.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA254299
Entities
People
- Michelle A. Ryerson
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology