Prevention of hypothermia during anaesthesia.

A study of the hypothermic effects of general anaesthesia during breast surgery and its amelioration by the use of a thermal drape to most of the body exclusive of the operating site. Two groups of patients are compared, using a constant anaesthetic technique, a single surgeon and the same operating conditions except for the omission or inclusion of thermal drapes. A review of the homeostatic mechanisms of temperature control and other methods of maintaining body temperature are included.