Given the serious complications associated with hypothermia and the known benefits of normothermia, why aren’t more patients warmed? In fact, why aren’t all patients routinely warmed?

While it’s possible many clinicians may be unaware of the benefits of warming or believe warming is unnecessary for certain types of cases and patients, the most probable cause is the current warming systems themselves.
The most widely used warming systems involve the use of a hot air blower, a hose and a special disposable blanket to blow warm air on the patient. This approach can effectively warm the patient but can be expensive, involves a conscious decision on the part of the clinician to utilize warming, takes up nursing time, is somewhat cumbersome and noisy, may not be practical for the surgical procedure and produces medical waste.

Other less popular systems use a water or gel filled pad on which the patient is placed. These also can be effective but involve a conscious decision to use warming, are heavy and bulky, not available in all ORs or even practical to place in all ORs.