FAQs

Why is a warming device needed during surgery?

Maintaining a patient’s temperature (Normothermia) during surgery has been found to improve patient outcomes, shorten patient stays in hospitals, and reduce the rate of surgical site infections. Hypothermia in a patient can lead to severe complications and extend the healing process, in some cases requiring a longer patient stay. Similarly, maintaining patient normothermia prior to and post-surgery generally improves patient well-being and the general experience in the hospital.

In what ways can a patient be warmed during surgery?

The three most common forms of patient warming today are the application of pre-warmed blankets (not possible in the OR but commonly used in Pre-Op and the PACU), external electric or water perfusion pads heating pads either underneath or on top of the patient, and the forced air warming (FAW) system that utilizes heated air pumped from a fan-driven base unit, normally on the floor of the OR.

All of these systems rely on externally warming the skin, muscle and adipose tissue by pushing a thermal load that to reach the patient’s body core. The warmUP™ places a thermal load on the hand under a mild vacuum directly heating palmar blood flow which is pumped back to the heart thus warming the body core.

Another more invasive method is to pre-warm IV fluids prior to administration to the patient. This can be necessary in some procedures especially where there is severe fluid loss and replacement.

What is the difference between Forced Air Warming (FAW) and the warmUP™?

FAW is generated by a fan system that blows warmed air from a base unit typically located on the floor of the OR. In some cases, the fan unit is attached to a stand and elevated off the floor. In both cases, it draws in ambient air from the OR, heats it and pushes it through a hose to a disposable “blanket” which is draped over the patient. It has been alleged in a Federal lawsuit that the heated air of a popular FAW system can create a hot air convection that disturbs laminar airflow in the OR potentially moving pathogens into the sterile field. Note that this litigation is ongoing and has not been adjudicated.

The warmUP™ has no fans and uses a water based system thus no moving air and waste heat for the clinical staff.