LONDON Warming up patients about to undergo surgery could reduce the risk of post-operative infection by more than 60 per cent, DPA quoted doctors as maintaining.

Infection rates were found to fall dramatically when patients were warmed 30 minutes before going into theater, a survey revealed. Wound infections occurred in 5 per cent of the warmed patients, compared with 14 per cent of individuals who did not receive the warming treatment.

The idea behind warming is that it increases the flow of blood to the body surface, bringing infection-fighting white cells and antibodies to the sites of wounds.

Pre-operative anxiety, fasting, anaesthetic drugs and the traumatic effect of surgery can all cause blood to flow inwards from peripheral areas. This is a natural response in the face of danger.

Post-operative infection is a huge problem in hospitals, particularly with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bugs such as MRSA.

Doctors carrying out the study at the university hospital of North Tees in the northern British town of Stockton-on-Tees, recruited more than 400 patients undergoing breast, varicose vein, or hernia surgery.

A third were placed under an inflatable blanket filled with warm air for at least half an hour before their operations. Another third had a heated dressing placed over the incision site, again about 30 minutes before going into surgery.

The final group were operated on without undergoing a warming procedure. The researchers, led by Professor David Leaper, reported their findings in **** The Lancet Medical Journal ****.

"The first few hours afterwards have been widely accepted as the key period when a wound infection is likely to become established. Our study suggests that the hour before surgery may be just as important," said the team.