Authors: Rodriguez-Patarroyo et al.
Anesthesiology August 20, 2025. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005730
Summary
In a randomized cross-over study of 20 healthy volunteers, five full-body forced-air warming systems were compared. Across devices, heat flux flipped from net loss to net gain within 5 minutes, and mean skin temperature rose to ~35.5°C by 15 minutes, then stabilized. No statistically or clinically meaningful differences were detected among systems.
What You Should Know
• All tested full-body forced-air systems transferred substantial heat with similar performance.
• Heat flux improved from −101 ± 53 W to +20 ± 48 W within 5 minutes.
• Mean skin temperature reached ~35.5 ± 0.8°C by 15 minutes and stayed stable.
• Study conditions: ambient 20.3 ± 2.4°C; randomized cross-over; 45-minute washouts.
• Practical takeaway: choose based on availability, cost, disposables, service, and workflow—expect comparable warming efficacy.
Thank you Anesthesiology for allowing us to use this article.