That's not enough, says Anita Volpe, DNP, APRN, director of surgical
outcomes, research and education at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
in New York City.
"Based upon all the evidence-based literature available, active pre-
op warming should be a protocol for all patients," says Ms. Volpe.
Ms. Volpe has implemented warming protocols in 2 large facilities
and says the pre-operative warming practices make a significant dif-
ference in achieving positive patient outcomes.
Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, MSN, director of surgery and perioperative
services at Prime Healthcare in Nogales, Ariz., agrees. "Warming of sur-
gical patients, starting in the pre-op area and continuing until dis-
charge, especially during the intraoperative period, is crucial," he says.
One respondent noted that dealing with an infection is expensive.
"Research has shown a higher incidence of infection when tempera-
tures are too low or too high. From a financial standpoint, keeping
patients warm in a cold OR will help prevent infections, which we all
know can cost thousands of dollars [to treat]," says the respondent.
Rationales for whom to warm
Nearly 62% of respondents say the length of surgery and 60% say the
type of procedure are factors in whether to warm patients. Deborah
O'Toole, BSN, perioperative manager at Stony Brook Eastern Long
Island Hospital in Greenport, N.Y., says all patients are warmed
using warmed blankets or forced air, regardless of procedure type.
She says the costs are negligible, and thinks the money saved due to
shorter recovery times more than offsets the nominal expense of
warming.
The OR's room temperature is a factor for 38% and the age of the
patient is a consideration for 37%. Nearly 36% take the type of anes-
thesia into account, and a patient's ASA status and pre-existing med-
5 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
