Top ways to maintain normothermia in the perioperative setting:
- Pre-warming patients with BairHugger™ blankets/gowns. If you are adding an upper body blanket in the OR, apply it to the torso in the pre-op holding area. If you are adding a full body blanket in recovery – try prewarming with that blanket.
- Fluid warming – IV and irrigation fluids given at >50 ml/min need to be warmed to prevent the corresponding temperature loss.
- Intraoperative convective blanket warming will help offset the core temperature redistribution that is caused by the anesthesia.
- Room temperature – Keeping the OR 2°C higher than normal will help limit core temperature loss.
