Warming Measures
Intraoperative hypothermia can be prevented. Perioperative personnel can use both active and passive measures to maintain or achieve normothermia.
Active Warming Measures
- Application of external heating sources to the skin and peripheral tissues.
- The heating sources should be applied preoperatively and maintained throughout the procedure.
Passive Warming Measures
These are measures that use the patient’s own heat including:
- Cotton blankets
- Coverings for the head and feet
- Minimizing exposure of the patient’s skin with drapes or plastic sheet covers