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.
Life Sciences and Healthcare: Reshaping Institutional Design
Arnprior Regional Health Upgrades Building Controls to Improve IEQ
Oregon Health & Science University Opens Vista Pavilion
The Growing Crisis in Rural Healthcare Facilities
A Cleaning Alternative: The Benefits of Steam Technology