Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Special Outpatient Surgery Edition - Infection Control - May 2018

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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M A y 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 2 3 W arm patients are happy patients, but the benefits of maintaining normothermia extend well beyond the "ahh" factor. Warming surface skin areas increases blood flow and oxygen levels at the sub- cutaneous space, which is where superficial surgi- cal site infections commonly occur. Increasing the blood supply to incisions also leads to better wound healing. Here's why controlling a patient's core body temperature through active warming should be part of your efforts to ensure patients leave your facility with nothing more than a healthy, healing scar. 1. Hypothermia helps bacteria Bacteria that enter surgical incisions are attacked by white blood cells and antibodies. Quality laboratory-based data show white blood cells E. Patchen Dellinger, MD | Seattle, Wash. Patient Warming Stops SSIs Cold Maintaining normothermia promotes wound healing and helps reduce infection risks. • COLD TRUTH Preventing hypother- mia limits cutaneous vasoconstric- tion, increases tissue oxygenation and improves immune cell function.

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