Impact of Prewarming on Perioperative Body Core Temperature and the Outcomes of Cytoreductive- and Major Open Abdominal Surgery: A Randomised Trial

Impact of Prewarming on Perioperative Body Core Temperature and the Outcomes of Cytoreductive- and Major Open Abdominal Surgery: A Randomised Trial (PREWARM)

The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether a prewarming period of at least 30 minutes during induction of general and combined epidural anesthesia reduces the core temperature drop normally occuring in patients undergoing cyto-reductive and major abdominal surgery. In addition the effect of prewarming on intra and postoperative body core temperature will be evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age > 18
• elective cytoreductive or major abdominal surgery caused by ovarian cancer, primarily or secondary

Exclusion Criteria:

• age < 18
• refusal participate in study
• pregnant or breast-feeding women
• cardiac ejection fraction < 30%
• terminal renal insufficiency requiring dialysis
• severe pulmonary disease (Gina-Classification< 3)
• neurological and/or psychiatric disease
• patient is placed in an institution due to court order
• lack of language skills/understanding
• employee of Charité Berlin
• alcohol addiction
• refusal of epidural anesthesia or failure to insert epidural catheter
• participation in other perioperative, invasive studies which prohibit further study inclusion