CompletedNot Applicable

Electric Warming Mattress to Prevent IPH During LSCS

United Kingdom116 participantsStarted 2010-02

Plain-language summary

This study will demonstrate whether an electric warming mattress can reduce the number of patients who get cold and shiver after elective cesarean section. Peri-operative hypothermia (body temperature below 36 ºC) is a cause of post-operative complications and patient discomfort. Immediately post-operatively such discomfort is due to increased pain and shivering. Patients say that their time in the recovery ward is very stressful and this is prolonged if they become cold (hypothermic)or shiver. Subsequently, patients can suffer with increased risk of infections and delayed discharge from hospital. For patients (and their babies) having Cesarean sections it is important to start breast feeding as soon as possible, but being cold may delay this. For some types of surgery measures are put in place to stop patients becoming cold and thereby reduce the number of problems. However this is not the case with patients undergoing Cesarean sections because the special blankets through which hot air is blown to keep them warm are inappropriate for mothers giving birth by Cesarean section as it would make it difficult for a mother to have good skin-to-skin contact with her new baby immediately after delivery - an important part in the bonding process. A solution is to use a new warming mattress. This has been shown to be safe and effective with some types of surgery, but has not been tested in Cesarean sections. In the investigators study,the investigators will warm a group of patients undergoing planned Cesarean section and compare them to an unwarmed group to see if there is any difference primarily in post-operative temperature. Secondarily, the investigators will also look for differences in total blood loss, incidence of blood transfusion, wound infection, shivering, the immediate health of the baby, time taken to become fit for discharge from recovery, length of hospital stay and time to breast-feeding.

Who can participate

Age range

16 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients undergoing elective (planned) caesarean section under spinal or combined spinal and epidural (CSE) anaesthesia will be eligible. Exclusion Criteria: * Exclusion criteria will be those who refuse, who are unable to fully understand the trial or are under 16 years of age when presenting for their Caesarean section. * Those that are unable to understand for language issues are excluded with regret due to the difficulties of obtaining interpreters at the time of caesarean section, in recovery and once at home for the telephone interview. Waiting for additional interpretation may delay the clinical management of the patient and also the patient may not be able to convey questions or concerns about the study through mail, email or telephone prior to attending. * Patients under 16 years of age will be excluded from the trial for reasons of consent. Although a patient less than 16 years of age may have Gillick competence and therefore have the capacity to consent to take part in this trial, as a minor their parents may have concerns leading them to refuse trial entry. Child birth in minors can be very stressful for the patient, family and clinical team and we are keen not to add to this for the purposes of a study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

This Study Intends to Investigate Whether an Electric Warming Mattress Can Reduce Post-operative Hypothermia (Defined as Body Temperature of Less Than 36.0ºC) in Patients Undergoing Planned Caesarean Section.

Timeframe: On admission to recovery room - time variable, same day as procedure

This Study Intends to Investigate Whether an Electric Warming Mattress Can Reduce the Incidence of Shivering in Patients Undergoing Planned Caesarean Section.

Timeframe: From start of anaesthesia till discharge from the recovery room - time variable, same day as procedure

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01054209

SponsorBrighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2011-07

Results submitted2015-01-27

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hypothermia trials