Unintended hypothermia is easily preventable. Studies show that warming patients by maintaining a core temperature of 36ºC or higher, helps to improve outcomes by reducing the frequency of complications often associated with inadvertent hypothermia. The consequences of hypothermia include higher mortality rates, longer hospital stays and an increased rate of wound infection.1-6 3M is dedicated to providing patient warming solutions that help to enhance patient recovery. Contact us now to find out how 3M can help your organisation to achieve its patient warming goals.
Discover how clinicians can confidently and proactively Own the Zone, by monitoring and maintaining the patient’s core body temperature between 36.0°C to 37.5°C, from the time the patient enters the pre-operative area until the moment they are discharged from recovery.
A trusted, proven solution - we’ve been helping clinicians maintain normothermia in surgical patients for over 30 years, with unrivalled clinical evidence to support the use of Bair Hugger patient warming solutions. Products you can depend on, for the patients who depend on you. Because every patient is part of our family.
At 3M, we provide more than products, we work as a partner with healthcare professionals, providing high quality research and educational tools to help you choose the right solution to maintain normothermia for your surgical patients. Explore and download the latest resources here.
Published guidelines recommend starting forced-air warming pre-operatively on the ward or in the emergency department, and maintaining forced-air warming throughout the intra-operative phase.2 Pre-warming patients for just 10 to 20 minutes prior to general anaesthesia adds to the total heat content of your patient's body, helping prevent perioperative hypothermia and reduce postoperative shivering.3
All surgical patients, regardless of age, weight or other factors, undergoing general or regional anaesthesia are susceptible to Redistribution Temperature Drop (RTD). Research shows that core body temperature drops up to 1.6°C in the first hour following the induction of general anaesthesia,1 increasing the risk of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia and its associated complications2,4.
NICE recommends that patients should be actively warmed using forced air warming until they are discharged from the recovery room or are comfortably warm2. Avoiding hypothermia and vasoconstriction after surgery leads to minimised wound hypoxia, and promotes wound healing and resistance to infection. Hypothermic patients also experience longer recovery timers than normothermic ones.5
Forced air warming gowns
Bair Hugger warming gowns offer both comfort and clinical warming options throughout the perioperative process in one convenient product. Used in place of a traditional cotton gown, the patient can control the air temperature, to stay warm and comfortable on the ward. The gown can also be used in a clinical setting with warming devices in the operating room and in recovery.
Forced air warming blankets
Over 170 clinical studies have been published on the effectiveness of forced air warming, most of which were conducted using the Bair Hugger system. We have a patient warming blanket for every surgical position, every procedure and every patient. With over 30 years of clinical experience and 300 million patients warmed to date, we provide a trusted proven solution to support patient recovery.
Blood/fluid warming and Irrigation warming
The Ranger™ Blood and Fluid Warming System with SmartHeat™ technology adapts to virtually any fluid warming need, from KVO (keep vein open) to in excess of 30 litres per hour. A variety of disposable sets mean that your fluid warming needs are always available, including paediatric, standard and high flow sets. We also have a range of irrigation warming sets available.
Temperature monitoring system
The Bair Hugger temperature monitoring system is a non-invasive, accurate core temperature monitoring system that continuously measures the patient’s core temperature with an affordable single-use sensor, providing standardisation with one consistent temperature monitoring method throughout the perioperative process.
Find out more about the Bair Hugger temperature monitoring system
Find the answer to the most frequently asked questions regarding 3M Health Care
Join the 3M Health Care Academy and broaden your professional knowledge
If you have a question about a 3M Health Care product or service, please get in touch
Find Instructions for Use (IFU) to easily access documents for specific 3M healtcare products.