Background and Goal of Study: Perioperative heat loss (PHL) is common in patients undergoing surgical procedures, which is associated with many adverse outcomes. Active warming techniques are effective measures for PHL prevention. Some studies conclude that short duration surgeries don't seem to benefit with active warming. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effect of active warming in PHL during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective audit including patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Procedures done under active warming technique (WT) with forced-air warming blankets. Auricular temperature was monitored at five moments: Operating room arrival (T1), after anaesthetic induction (T2), end of surgery (T3), Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) arrival (T4) and PACU discharge (T5). The time intervals (Δ) T3-T2, ΔT5-T1 and ΔT5-T4 were calculated. Gender, age, American Society of Anaesthesia Physical Status (ASA), Body Mass Index (BMI), type of anaesthesia and surgery length were collected. Descriptive statistical analysis and Qui Quadrado was runned (p< 0,05) (SPSS®v.22).
Results and Discussion: Our study included 94 patients (WT: n=27; nWT: n=67). We found statistically significant differences during ΔT5-T1, between WT group and nWT group (p=0,03). The differences are not statistically significant between the groups in the PACU (ΔT5-T4 p=0,5) and the intraoperative period (ΔT3-T2 p=0,344). We didn't find significant differences between the groups regarding gender (WT 70% females; nWT 79% females), age (WT median 62 [31-88]; nWt median 58 [26-87]), ASA (WT 59% ASA2; nWT 70% ASA 2), BMI (WT 26,67±5,3kg/m2; nWT 28,25±4,39Kg/m2), type of anaesthesia (WT and nWT 100% general anaesthesia), surgery length (WT 48,48±24,10min; nWT 48,85±31,12min) and length of hospital stay (WT 3,35±4,58; nWT 3,10±4,66). 
Conclusion(s): Active warming for elective laparoscopic cholecistectomy seems to influence the heat loss associated with surgical procedure, suggesting that forced air warming may be beneficial. The findings underline the importance of developing new strategies and methods to minimize PHL.

Impact of active warming in perioperative heat loss in laparoscopic cholecystectomy