Patient Warming & Cooling Solutions
It’s extremely important that a patient is warmed before, during, and after surgical procedures in an operating theatre setting, in order to mitigate heat loss.
If the core temperature drops below 36°C at any time, the chances of perioperative hypothermia increase, a condition which can affect the outcomes of surgery and the general health and recovery of the patient.
The four processes that lead to heat loss in patients include:
Conduction - the transfer of heat through physical contact, for example, placing patients onto cold trolleys for surgery.
Convection - the transfer of heat through the movement of air or fluids, for example, using cold fluids instead of warm.
Radiation - the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, for example, which can be mitigated by covering the body with heated blankets and positioning the patient on warming mattresses to trap heat.
Evaporation - the transfer of heat as the body cools via sweating, a common side effect of anaesthesia.
Specialist patient warming devices can be used in operating theatres and hospital wards as an effective remedy for heat loss, which can easily turn into hypothermia thanks to the effects of using anaesthetics.
It has been shown that Safewarm and Medwarm resistive mattresses and blankets are just as effective at warming patients as the forced air types. Moreover there are additional benefits in not using forced air types.
Patients with perioperative hypothermia can in turn experience problems with cardiac disturbance, delayed emergence from anaesthetic, vasoconstriction, tissue hypoxia, and surgical site infections (SSI’s) – all of which can be avoided when using appropriate patient warming devices.
There are a number of patient warming solutions on the market, which include:
Patient warming blankets and heated mattresses
Warming cabinets – which are suitable for warming fluids, blankets, or both.
Patient warming blankets and mattresses
Patient warming blankets and mattresses from the trusted brands at Safewarm and Medwarm are an excellent way to maintain patient temperature to 36°C at all times – reducing the likelihood of perioperative hypothermia easily and quickly. HICO systems are used to cool patients, especially after a cardiac arrest, etc.
Safewarm and Medwarm Mattresses and Blankets
Safe and simple to use, this cost-effective patient warming system delivers a regulated temperature range between 30°C-40°C, which is changeable by 0.1°C increments.
Carbon fibre technology means there is no hot air to make the surgeon uncomfortable and no increased air currents to cause any cross infection issues. Other benefits include:
Mattresses and blankets can reach the required temperature in 5 – 7 minutes
Ultra-sonically sealed seams to prevent liquid ingress
Battery-powered controllers to aid transport within the hospital setting
X-ray translucent
Easy to adjust with different controllers for different settings
Outer cover can be removed and washed as high as 90°C
Mattresses and blankets can be wiped down using standard cleaning protocols
Built-in alarms with 2 independent microprocessors
Easy to control and operates silently
HICO Patient Warming and Cooling
HICO offers an optimal solution for perioperative patient cooling and warming through a range of patient warming systems.
Also contributing to faster recovery, this patient warmer machine accurately controls a patient’s temperature.
Variotherm 555
Operating range of +5°C to +40°C is ideal for intensive care units, cardiology and operating theatres
Variotherm 550
Operates at +15°C to +39°C and is the ideal solution suited to neonatal and paediatric departments
Using surface contact with temperture-controlled water pads (mattress or blanket), Hico patient warming system accurately controls patient temperature. Due to its excellent thermal conductivity, water is used as the optimal medium for the safe and successful transfer of heat.
The HICO patient warmer machine offers single-use water pads or reusable water pads, which are translucent to allow X-rays.
There are low follow-up costs due to the reusable nature of the water pads, and these patient-warming machines provide closed, low-noise systems.
Safewarm & Medwarm Patient Warming
Safe, simple, effective
HICO Patient Warming and Cooling
Precise temperature management of your patients
Warming cabinets
Warming cabinets come in two varieties and are designed to warm either fluids or blankets.
Both warmed fluids and blankets help to keep patients in operating rooms and critical care environments within the bounds of normothermia - a term used to describe a normal core body temperature.
If core temperatures are allowed to become too low, the chances of perioperative hypothermia increase dramatically, especially for the very young, old, or unwell - raising the likelihood of post-operative complications.
Fluid warming cabinets
To extend their shelf-life, medical fluids are often kept cold, which can be problematic for patients, as it increases the chance of mild perioperative hypothermia if they are administered at such low temperatures.
To correct this, fluid warming cabinets bring the necessary fluids such as IVs, surgical irrigation fluids up to 60°C, removing the chance of a dropping core temperature. Contrast media for CT radiography use similar cabinet sbut controlled to a maximum of 37°C.
Fluid warming cabinets boast quiet internal fans, large internal capacities and quick temperature recovery as the door is opened and closed, meaning that the unwell can be kept within the bounds of a normal core temperature much more easily.
Blanket warming cabinets
Used across critical care, A&E, resus rooms, and theatre recovery suites, blanket warming cabinets are used to bring cotton blankets up to around 80°C.
This brings instant relief and comfort, allowing dropping core temperatures to be safely stabilised without invasive measures.
Combination warming cabinets
For healthcare environments where space is at a premium, consider a combination warming cabinet - designed with space for both warming fluids in the bottom section and warming blankets in the top compartment.
Combination warming cabinets allow medical staff to limit the number of times they open the doors, as while the separate cabinets are joined, they can be accessed individually using the swing doors.
Browse our range of warming cabinets today and reach out to us on 01663 735 494 if you wish to place an order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you stock patient warming solutions?
While the Variotherm 550 and 555 systems can be used for both warming and cooling, the Safewarm and Medwarm patient warming system is designed to keep patients at a regulated temperature range of between 30°C - 40°C.
With very small increments of 0.1°C, the Safewarm and MedWarm system can ensure very precise patient warming, delivering optimal hypothermia prevention.
Made up of two warming blanket sections and a mattress, the Safewarm and Medwarm patient warming system can fully cover the patient and will reach the required temperature in 5 – 7 minutes, reducing the chance of postoperative complications, even during patient transfer.
As a bariatric mattress, the Safewarm and Medwarm system is suitable for warming patients of all sizes, reducing the need for multiple, specialist warming devices.
For more information, explore our Safewarm and Medwarm patient warming system brochure. If you would like to trial the product before placing an order, fill in our free trial form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Do you offer technology that can function for patient warming and cooling?
It is very well known that perioperative patient warming is essential to help reduce the risk of postoperative complications.
However, it is less well-known that patients also need to be cooled on occasion. This may reduce inflammation, brain damage, and injury, and is even used after some patients suffer a cardiac arrest.
As such, it is essential that hospitals and clinics have devices that can warm and cool patients.
The HICO patient temperature management system incorporates a patient warming system with cooling using surface contact with sealed water pads to control the temperature.
This system uses uniform and temperature transfer that works in the range of 5°C- 40°C with the Variotherm 555, or 15°C- 39°C with the Variotherm 550. This makes them suitable for a range of locations, including intensive care and operating theatres, and neonatal or paediatric departments.
For further information peruse the HICO patient temperature management system brochure or fill in our enquiry form and we’ll get back to you with a quote or to answer any questions you may have.
Do you have patient warming system for neonatal or paediatric departments?
In healthcare settings, it’s generally the youngest patients that are most at risk from low body temperatures.
Low body temperatures in neonates and babies can be dangerous and lead to serious health complications, so it is very important that they are kept warm.
Traditionally, incubators are used to regulate babies’ temperatures, but if the baby needs to be handled a lot or is being transferred from wards to theatres, warming blankets or mattresses may be used. There are also small heated mattresses specially to fit baby cots used in maternity areas.
Both the Safewarm and Medwarm patient warming devices and HICO patient warming and cooling machines deliver safe, effective, and precise temperature management for patients – no matter how small they are.
For personalised recommendations, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly, knowledgeable team. You can call us or send us an email and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.