Our surgical team keeps
irrigation fluids in a warm-
ing basin designed for that
sole purpose in the OR. The
basin keeps the fluids warm
and displays a digital read
out of the fluid's tempera-
ture. After open abdominal
procedures, surgeons irri-
gate the wound cavity with
the warmed irrigation solu-
tion before closing to avoid
using fluids that are cooler
than the patient's core body
temperature.
Taking the tempera-
ture
We currently use ear probe monitors and digital oral thermometers
to take patients' temperatures throughout the perioperative
process, but we're looking forward to trialing a new non-invasive
temperature monitoring system, which involves placing a dispos-
able sensor on the patient's forehead. The sensor, which travels
with the patient from pre-op to PACU, connects to small control
units at various stops along the surgical pathway. The control units,
which we've mounted next to EKG machines at each point of care,
display easy-to-see digital temperature readings. When nurses rou-
tinely check EKG monitors, they can quickly glance at the patient's
core temperature reading to decide if active warming methods are
effectively maintaining normothermia.
J U L Y 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 4 7
• HOT TAKE Connecting patients to active warming devices during each
stop along the perioperative pathway helps to maintain normothermia.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
