1 8 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E M A Y 2 0 1 7
W
arming patients before,
during and after surgery
will no doubt boost your satisfaction scores and help pre-
vent post-op infections, but debate is heating up about the
best and safest way to keep core body temperatures at or
above 36°C. Some studies even suggest forced-air warming might actually
increase SSI risk by acting as a vector or causing unwanted airflow distur-
bances, but the evidence doesn't conclusively suggest that to be the case. It
5 BURNINGQUESTIONS ABOUT
PATIENT WARMING
Paul Austin, CRNA, PhD
Fort Worth, Texas
Separating fact from fiction on ways to prevent hypothermia
and lower infection risks.
• HOT TOPIC The evidence sug-
gests preventing hypothermia has
a positive role to play in preventing
surgical site infections.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
