Outpatient Surgery Magazine - Subscribers

Work-Life Balance - January 2017 - Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 3 1 E ach surgical facility seems to have its own method of patient warming. Some use intravenous fluid warmers and warmed cotton blankets, while others opt for one or more of the host of warming devices — forced-air warming blankets and gowns, underbody heat mat- tresses and conductive-fabric warmers among them — to maintain normothermia. There's a lot at stake. Numerous studies suggest that even a mild case of hypothermia can have adverse health consequences, including an increased risk of infections. But one mode of patient warming — the highly popular forced air — faces increasing scrutiny over allega- tions that it can actually cause surgical site infections. Detractors sug- gest that a forced-air warming unit can disrupt the flow of sterile air inside an OR and stir up contaminants from the floor, thereby increas- Is Forced-Air Warming Losing Steam? Why some surgical facilities are seeking alternatives for maintaining normothermia. Bill Donahue | Senior Editor • HOT AIR? Lawsuits allege that forced-air warmers have caused surgical site infections.

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