Anaesthetised patients can’t regulate their temperature. The body’s physiological response to anaesthesia places virtually every anaesthetised surgical patient at risk for unintended hypothermia, regardless of age, sex or physical condition. Research shows that core body temperature drops rapidly (up to 1.6ºC in the first hour alone1) following the induction of anaesthesia. Unfortunately, unintended hypothermia remains an all-too common and costly complication of surgery despite its association with higher mortality rates2, longer hospital stays3 and an increased rate of wound infection4.
Unintended perioperative hypothermia has been called a frequent, but preventable complication of surgery; with adverse effects on the patient, who is already compromised by surgical intervention. Unless preventative measures are taken, inadvertent perioperative hyporthermia will occur in 50% to 90% of surgical patients. Maintaining normothermia during the surgical procedure is therefore a critical aspect of patient care.1 2
3M has a range of patient warming solutions to help prevent and treat inadvertent perioperative hypothermia including:
3M™ Bair Hugger™ Therapy - The Original Forced-air Warming Technology
3M™ Bair Paws™ Patient Adjustable Warming System
3M™ Ranger™ Blood and Fluid Warming Systems
Paragraph 1:
1. Sessler DI. Current concepts: mild perioperative hypothermia. New England Journal of Medicine, 1997; 336: 1730-1737.
2. Barie PS. Surgical Site Infections: Epidemiology and Prevention. Surgical Infections. 2002; Vol. 3, S-9 – S-21.
3. Jeran L. American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses Development Panel. Clinical Guideline for the Prevention of Unplanned Perioperative Hypothermia. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Oct. 2001:Vol. 16(5): pp 305-314.
4. Tryba M, Leban J, et al. Does active warming of severely injured trauma patients influence perioperative morbidity? Anesthesiology. 1996; 85: A283.
Paragraph 2:
1. Sessler, D. I., (1997) Current Concepts: mild perioperative hypothermia, New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 336, No 24, pp 1730-1737.
2. Young, V. L, Watson, M.E, (2006) Prevention of perioperative hypothermia in plastic surgery. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Vol. 26, No 5, pp 551-571.
The Bair Paws System of forced-air warming provides patients with comfortable and clinically proven warming throughout the perioperative process.
With a single Bair Paws gown, patients may be clinically pre-warmed before surgery or receive comfort warming as they await a procedure. Once in the operating theatre, the same gown offers clinical warming for select surgical procedures when connected to a 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Warming Unit.
The gown continues to warm in recovery, with both comfort and clinical capabilities.
Plus only the Bair Paws system offers patient-adjustable warming, allowing patients to adjust the temperature of air flowing through the gown to a level that's right for them.
Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia remains a costly complication of surgery associated with higher mortality rates, longer hospital stays and an increased rate of wound infection1.
The good news is unintended hypothermia is easily preventable. Find out how 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Therpay is used for keeping patients warm.
1. Mahoney C.B., Odom J. (1999) Maintaining intraoperative normothermia: a meta-analysis of outcomes with costs. AANA Journal No. 67, Vol. 2 pp. 155-164
3M™ Ranger™ Blood and Fluid Warming System
The Ranger™ blood and fluid warming system with SmartHeat™ technology adapts to virtually any fluid warming needs from KVO (keep vein open) to in excess of 30 litres per hour.
A variety of disposable sets that meet your fluid warming needs are available, including paediatric, standard and high flow sets.
When rapidly infusing fluid it is important to guard against air embolism. Air embolisms have been included on the 2011/12 list of ‘never events’ identified by the Department of Health (DoH)1 as “serious largely preventable patient safety incidence.”
All Ranger high flow sets are equipped with a clinically proven auto-venting bubble trap, capable of venting up to 3 litres of air per minute without interrupting flow.
Both the Ranger blood and fluid warming system and the 3M™ Ranger™ Irrigation System offer intuitive, simple solutions to the most complex fluid warming needs.
Contact your Patient Warming Account Manager to find out more.
Paragraph 3:
1. www.dh.gov.uk, Department of Health - The “never events” list 2011/12; 22 Air embolism
Paragraph 4:
Eaton, MP, et al (2003). Relative Performance of the Level 1 and Ranger Pressure Infusion Devices. Anaesthesia & Analgesia, Vol. 97, No. 4, pp. 1074-7 Schnoor, J, et al (2004). The air elimination capabilities of pressure infusion devices and fluid-warmers. Anaesthesia, Vol. 59, pp. 817-821
3M™ Patient Warming Customer Service
Patient Warming Customer Services:
For customer services, to place an order or for product and price enquiries please contact Becky Williams on 01509 613371 or Surren Kaur on 01509 613220. Alternatively you can email uhealthcareorders@mmm.com
For hardware support including repairs and maintenance please contact our Service Centre on 01928 532590.
