Aggressive intraoperative warming of patients to 37°C during major non-cardiac surgery does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications, according to results from a large trial.

Neither does it lead to fewer wound infections or lower the need for blood transfusions compared to patients kept at cooler body temperatures, US and Chinese researchers say.

Findings from the PROTECT trial, presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2022 Annual Scientific Sessions this month, suggest that aiming for a core body temperature of at least 35.5°C “appears sufficient”.

“Surgical patients should still be warmed, but there’s no need to be super-aggressive about the warming,” said lead investigator Dr Daniel Sessler of the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio.