Bring your dressing gown, vest and slippers, whatever the weather!
This low-tech advice to patients is crucial to implementing the NICE guidance on Management of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia in adults. Implementation Advice published this month highlights the issues facing trusts, spanning communications, training and development and service revision. From purchasing duvets and forced air warming devices, to a rigorous approach to temperature measurement by clinical staff, this clinical guideline offers a comprehensive strategy for tackling this common occurrence. Our new Implementation Advice document highlights the key actions for trusts and has a recommendation for commissioners.
Estimates suggest that up to 70% of un-warmed patients may be hypothermic on admission to the recovery room. Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of less than 36°C and patients who develop perioperative (i.e. before, during and up to 24 hours after surgery) hypothermia can experience a number of complications, including a greater chance of heart problems, higher rates of infection and increased blood loss. Patients experiencing perioperative hypothermia may need a longer stay in hospital.
There is misunderstanding about the risks associated with perioperative hypothermia but equally there is a huge amount that can be done to prevent hypothermia happening. Prevention begins with simple measures, such as providing sufficient bedding to keep patients comfortably warm before surgery. More active interventions to warm patients should be used during surgery when patients are at most risk of becoming hypothermic. Providing patients with the right information is also very important and the Implementation Advice includes suggested wording to include in booking letters. Effective implementation is likely to have significant benefits for patients and the NHS, including a reduction in rates of surgical site infection and shorter hospital stays.
As well as the implementation advice, a slide set is already available - ideal for small staff groups and surgical teams; and audit support including a data collection tool.
