4 4 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5
Warming IV or irrigation fluid is another useful adjunct to patient
warming. Evidence shows that patients benefit most from warming IV and
irrigation fluid if more than 1 L of fluid is used during the case. Both
warming cabinets and in-line warmers have shown evidence of being effec-
tive in preventing hypothermia when used in addition to another active
warming method.
Can forced-air warming lead to surgical site infections,
as a flood of recent patient lawsuits contend, or is it
just a bunch of hot air?
Fifteen total joint replacement patients have filed
lawsuits against 3M Health Care, the manufacturer of
the popular Bair Hugger forced-air patient warming
device, and the number is expected to rise. The
patients allege that forced-air warming devices circu-
late more than just hot air. They say the blowers stir up contaminated air from the OR floor and deposit it in
the surgical site, causing deep joint infections that resulted in the need for repeat surgeries, amputation
and other complications.
Details of the 2 most recent lawsuits are harrowing. A patient's leg was amputated after he became
infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus during a knee replacement surgery. An artificial
hip patient who suffered an SSI needed 15 additional surgeries, including one to remove the implanted
joint.
While attorneys work to have these cases consolidated in a single federal court, more suits could be
coming. One law firm has set up a website, infectionlawsuits.com, trolling for patients.
3M launched its own web site, fawfacts.com, "The Facts About Forced-Air Warming," to refute such
claims, which a company official calls "baseless."
"There is no evidence that forced-air warming increases the risk of infection," says 3M attorney Christiana
Jacxsens of Greenberg Traurig in Atlanta, Ga. "In its entire history, not one hospital, doctor, or medical
BAIR HUGGER LAWSUITS
Is Forced-Air Warming an Invisible Infection Risk?
z HOT AIR? Should you be
concerned that forced-air
warmers could cause SSIs?
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
