Hepatic cryosurgery with and without the bair huggers®

Abstract

Hypothermia is a significant clinical problem during hepatic cryosurgery, which at times causes the procedure to be halted until the patient's body temperature can be raised. This study examines the effects of the Bair Hugger (a warming device) on body temperature during hepatic cryosurgery. Twenty-eight cases of hepatic cryosurgery were performed without the Bair Hugger, while 44 cases included the Bair Hugger. The lowest mean temperature was significantly lower in the group without the Bair Hugger (34.2 degrees C vs. 35.3 degrees C; P < 0.0001). In addition, this group showed a significantly greater mean change in temperature during the procedure (1.81 degrees C vs. 0.73 degrees C; P < 0.0001). No patient in the Bair Hugger group reached the point of clinically significant hypothermia. In conclusion, the Bair Hugger is safe and very effective in regulating body temperature and it is an essential piece of equipment performing hepatic cryosurgery.

Anesthetic considerations for hepatic cryotherapy

“…The heat conservation methods described above, when applied in the early stages of the operation, appear to obviate clinically significant hypothermia during cryotherapy. Similar efforts and results regarding heat conservation have also been reported by others [17,22].…”

Core temperature changes during open and laparoscopic colorectal surgery

“…In randomized trials, they have been shown to prevent hypothermia in this setting [7,11]. A significant decrease in the incidence of hypothermia, as shown in this series, when a forced-air warming device is used during laparoscopic colorectal surgery has not been previously reported.…”

Treatment of colorectal liver metastases by cryotherapy

“…Hypothermia was a significant problem early on in our series [50]. Ten patients had significant hypothermia with core temperatures below 33.5°C.…”