Comparison of Resistive Heating and Forced-Air Warming to Prevent Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia. Issue 6 (December 2016) - John, M.
Abstract : (Abstracted from Br J Anaesth, 116(2):249–254, 2016) A number of adverse patient events are associated with inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH; defined as a core temperature of less than 36°C), including greater intraoperative blood loss and increased postoperative wound infection rates, pressure ulcers, cardiac events, hospital costs, and length of stay. The most commonly used method to protect patients from IPH is the forced-air warming blanket (FAWB), which has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for all patients at a high risk of IPH as well as those patients undergoing surgeries lasting longer than 30 minutes.