Laparoscopic assisted pancreatico-duodenectomy - Temperature variations

We have evaluated the incidence of hypothermia during laparoscopic assisted pancreatico-duodenectomy in twenty patients. The intravenous infusions, irrigation fluid and CO2 insufflated were not warmed and we lack facilities for patient warming. A mean drop of 1.9 0C during laparoscopy over five hours and mean drop of 0.8 0C during the open phase were observed. Therefore warming the infusion and irrigation fluids and warming the patient are recommended to reduce the degree of temperature drop.