Active warming during caesarean section. Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Active Warming for Elective Caesarean section - A Randomised Controlled Trial
IRAS ID
150591
Contact name
Melanie Jane Woolnough
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
When a baby is delivered by a surgical procedure (a caesarean section) the woman will usually have a spinal anaesthetic (injection in your back to make you numb from the ribcage down for the duration of your surgery but you remain awake). During this type of anaesthetic it is common to lose heat and become cold (hypothermic) measured as less than 36 degrees Celsius. To help keep their temperature stable, we give all women fluid into the veins that is already warm and ensure that they are well insulated from any cold surfaces. There are two machines that we can also use to actively warm patients but these are not yet used in every case. The first method is called 'Forced Air Warming' and uses a special disposable sheet the woman lies upon with lots of air pockets that have warm air blown into them continuously by a fan. The second method is called a 'Conducting Warming Mattress' and uses a thin mattress which covers the operating table and the woman lies on top. The padded mattress has strips of material that heat up when electricity passes through it, similar to a normal electric blanket. Our aim in this study is to see if warming machines can help prevent women getting too cold, and prove scientifically whether one is more effective.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/0159
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion