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A P R I L 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT 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
7. How common is hypothermia?
The incidence of unplanned perioperative hypothermia ranges from
20% to 40% of surgical patients. There is some preliminary research
that indicates the incidence in ambulatory surgery patients may be
significantly lower, and that higher preoperative temperatures may be
protective of hypothermia, but further study is indicated. OSM
Dr. Hooper (
vallire.hooper@msj.org
) is the manager of nursing research at
Mission Health System in Asheville, N.C. She led a multidisciplinary team that
developed the Normothermia Clinical Guidelines issued by the American Society
of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.
P A T I E N T W A R M I N G
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