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P A T I E N T
W A R M I N G
longer policy might be
faulty, however, as
studies have shown
that core hypothermia
WARMING TRENDS
can develop quickly in
Reader Survey on Patient Warming
the hour immediately
Warming Modality*
Survey Says
Cotton blanket pre-warmed with a blanket warmer
87.5%
Forced-air warming blanket
77.8%
Forced-air warming gown
27.3%
Underbody warmingâ€
18.1%
Conductive fabric electric heating
3.7%
Radiant warming device
3.2%
Heat-reflective blankets, gowns and caps
1.4%
* Survey respondents could check more than 1 response.
†Thermal mattress or bed pad on which the patient lies
after the induction of
anesthesia. In the first
hour of anesthesia, an
unwarmed surgical
patient's core temperature can drop rapidly
as anesthesia-induced
vasodilation lets
warmer blood from
the core flow freely
and mix with the cooler blood in the periphery. As the blood circulates, it cools until
returning back to the
heart, where it causes
a drop in the core temperature.
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