Bitner Jason, Hilde Leana, Hall Kenneth, Duvendack Tammy
Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, Peoria, IL, USA.
AORN J. 2007 May;85(5):921-3, 925-9. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2007.04.009.
Postoperative hypothermia (ie, a core temperature lower than 96.8 degrees F [36 degrees C]), is a problem frequently seen in surgical patients, especially those undergoing total joint replacement. Patients who experience hypothermia may have increased recovery times and postoperative complications. A team of clinical staff members and personnel from the performance improvement (PI) department of a hospital used a PI model to incorporate use of preoperative forced-air warming blankets that resulted in improved postoperative core temperatures.
