Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Impact of a thermal care bundle on peri-operative hypothermia, surgical site infection, and readmissions in osteosynthesis patients: A randomised controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
The bundle reduces peri-operative hypothermia by up to 59%, but does not affect on SSI; factors like presurgery hospital stay, operating room and PACU occupancy were identified as risk factors for SSI.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing osteosynthesis surgeryall completed the study
- Participants
- 148 patients
- Comparison
- Thermal care bundle with short prewarming vs control
- Primary endpoint
- Hypothermia (core temperature below 36 °C, zero heat flux sensor), recorded from pre-operative holding area every 30 min until postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge
Methodological detailsopen-label, single-centre (university hospital)
- Open-label
- Single-centre (university hospital)
Primary result
Hypothermia at start of surgery · start of surgery
Odds ratio
7.59
P = 0.021
By group
Bundle
1.3
%
Controls
9.9%
As reported in the abstract
Secondary outcomes
Hypothermia at PACU admission
OR 2.07 · P = 0.024
| Outcome | Increase (°C) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core body temperature | 0.13 (0.003–0.254) | P = 0.045 | |
| −0.200.20.4Difference, °C (linear scale) |
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wound infections requiring readmission | 0.35 (0.04–2.92) | P = 0.332 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Impact of a thermal care bundle on peri-operative hypothermia, surgical site infection, and readmissions in osteosynthesis patients: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol. Published 17 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →