Peripheral warming for prevention of hypothermia in small dogs during soft tissue surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of wrapping the extremities of small dogs with table leg covers to prevent hypothermia during anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized parallel-group study. ANIMALS: A total of 60 adult dogs with a body mass <15 kg anesthetized for soft tissue surgery. METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The control group received routine intraoperative thermal support, while the limb-wrapping group had their peripheral limbs covered with table leg covers up to the mid-metacarpal/metatarsal region, in addition to routine thermal support. Rectal temperature during anesthesia was recorded and compared between the two groups. Data analyses were performed using Student's t-test for rectal temperature, Fisher's exact test for hypothermia incidence and analysis of covariance for the effect of limb-wrapping while taking other factors into account. RESULTS: Thirty dogs were included per group. Rectal temperature did not differ between the groups at the time of intubation, but it was significantly higher in the limb-wrapping group (36.7 &#xb1; 1.0 &#xb0;C) than in the control group (35.9 &#xb1; 0.8 &#xb0;C) at the end of surgery (p&#xa0;= 0.003). The mean difference was 0.81 &#xb0;C (95% confidence interval of mean difference 0.33-1.29 &#xb0;C). The incidence of hypothermia (<37.0 &#xb0;C) was significantly lower in the limb-wrapping group than in the control group (19/30 versus 28/30 dogs, respectively; p&#xa0;= 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: For dogs with body masses <15 kg, limb-wrapping with table leg covers slowed the reduction in intraoperative rectal temperature. Limb-wrapping is inexpensive and easy to perform, making it a practical method for minimizing hypothermia during anesthesia in small dogs undergoing soft tissue surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Peripheral warming with table leg covers has the potential to reduce hypothermia during soft tissue surgery in small dogs.