Forced air warming in operation rooms has been inked to surgical site infections, according to an article on the Outpatient Surgery website.
Lawsuits suggest that a forced-air warming unit can disrupt the flow of sterile air inside an OR and stir up contaminants from the floor, thereby increasing the potential for infections.
Some healthcare facilities are currently investigating alternatives to forced air in light of the allegations.
For instance, Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital in Springfield, Ohio, employs both forced-air and conductive lightweight fabric warmed by low-voltage electricity to keep patients normothermic.
Optimizing the Engineering Design of Ambulatory Care Facilities
Construction Completed on Washington Health Urgent Care Facility in California
OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital Begins Expansion Project
IAQ and Infection Mitigation: Plans Into Actions
Case Study: How NYU Langone Rebuilt for Resilience After Superstorm Sandy