Why warm before, during or after any surgical procedure?
The difference between a positive patient outcome and a complicated recovery can be a matter of degrees. Unintended perioperative hypothermia is a frequent, yet preventable, complication of surgery. It can increase the rate of surgical site infection (SSI),¹ extend recovery time² and length of stay,¹ and increase mortality rates.³
However, hypothermia can be easily prevented when temperature is monitored and an active warming measure is instituted throughout the perioperative process — starting before the induction of anaesthesia.
Maintaining normothermia can help avoid the potential cascade of negative outcomes associated with unintended hypothermia, including⁴
- Increased risk of SSIs
- Blood loss and transfusion requirements
- Adverse cardiac events
- Decreased drug metabolism
- Shivering and thermal discomfort
Products for normothermia
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The 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Normothermia System provides a wide range of patient warming products that play a critical role in maintaining normothermia, helping safeguard patients and improving outcomes. From blankets to gowns to temperature monitoring, we’ve got you covered.
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Warming fluids will not maintain normothermia on their own, but instead are considered an important adjunct therapy to forced air warming. The 3M™ Ranger™ Fluid Warming System offers intuitive, simple solutions for your most complex fluid warming needs.
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The success of a patient's surgery can depend on the equipment that is used during the surgical journey. Knowing how to clean and maintain your patient warming equipment is important.
Resources for patient warming
References:
1. Kurz A, Sessler DI, Lenhardt R. Perioperative normothermia to reduce the incidence of surgical-wound infection and shorten hospitalization. Study of Wound Infection and Temperature Group. N Engl J Med. 1996;334(19):1209-1215.
2. Lenhardt R, Marker E, Goll V, et al. Mild intraoperative hypothermia prolongs postanesthetic recovery. Anesthesiology. 1997;87(6):1318-1323.
3. Bush HL Jr, Hydo LJ, et al. Hypothermia during elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: the high price of avoidable morbidity. J Vasc Surg. 1995;21:392-400; discussion 400-392
4. Sessler DI, Kurz A. Mild perioperative hypothermia. Anesthesiology News. October 2008:17-28
