Effect of intravenous fluid warming on core body temperature during elective orthopedic procedures.

The effects of intravenous (IV) fluid warming on core body temperature in a group of dogs undergoing an elective orthopedic procedure was studied. An IV fluid warmer was used alone or in conjunction with forced warmed air to determine the individual or additive effects of IV fluid warming. These effects were compared to those in dogs with no heat support or those with only forced warmed air in a randomized prospective study design. The conclusion was that IV fluid warming had no effect on the maintenance or preservation of core body temperature in this population of dogs, and that, as previous reports have shown, forced warmed air decreased the rate of heat loss during anesthetic procedures. One possible explanation for the lack of benefit is the location of the fluid warmer in relation to the patient. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of IV fluid warming on core body temperature in dogs undergoing an elective orthopedic procedure. Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.