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P R E V E N T I N G
H Y P O T H E R M I A
How Would You
Warm This Patient?
THE BIG CHILL Each patient needs to
be assessed for hypothermia risk and
receive tailored warming methods.
Use these 6 case scenarios to determine
which warming methods you'd choose.
Donna A. Ford, MSN, RN-BC, CNOR | Rochester, Minn.
E
very surgical patient is in danger of perioperative hypothermia,
putting them at risk for longer stays, surgical site infections,
cardiac complications, delayed wound healing and increased
blood loss. What's more, the discomfort of being cold is a major worry
of patients — shivering before or after surgery isn't exactly part of a
good surgical experience.
N O V E M B E R 2012 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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