Fluid Warming and Blanket Warmers Prevent Hypothermia During Surgery

Are your patients warm enough during surgery?

According to a study done at the Cleveland Clinic, patients who are warmed using forced air warming may have their body temperatures elevated by the end of their surgery, but some still show signs of hypothermia during surgery.

According to the results presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, nearly all patients were at 36°C or higher at the end of surgery, but that hypothermia was surprisingly common during surgery.

Here are some stats from the study:

• 29% of the patients were less than 35.5°C at some point during surgery.
  
  
• Nearly half of the patients had continuous core temperatures below 36°C for more than an hour, and 20% were below 35.5°C for more than an hour.
  
  
• 20% of patients had continuous core temperatures below 36°C for more than 2 hours, and 8% were below 35.5°C for more than 2 hours.
  
  

Warmed blankets and fluids are effective and reliable methods for maintaining normothermia in patients. Using these methods rather than forced air warming keeps patients warm and cut down on potential contamination seen in forced air warming.

Reducing the risks for surgical site infections through patient warming can mean a faster recover time for your patients; which will in turn, increase your reputation for quality care.

Does Your Facility Need a Warming Cabinet?

Our FHC warming cabinets are designed to heat:

• Liquid in vented containers
  
  
• Liquid in non-vented containers to max 150°F
  
  
• Metal objects
  
  
• Muslin or cotton sheets and wool blankets
  
  
• Glass containers – must be annealed/borosilicate glass
  
  
• Plastic containers must be rated Thermal capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 300°F