Plastic surgeons commit to programs for patient safety in cosmetic surgery

Hypothermia prevention is the second issue being tackled by the ASAPS Campaign for Patient Safety, an ongoing initiative to raise awareness of steps that plastic surgeons and their patients can take to improve the safety of cosmetic surgery. The first campaign issue focused on the prevention of venous thromboembolism.
Read the complete press release

For more information, log onto http://www.surgery.org. To access the complete journal article, “Prevention of Perioperative Hypothermia in Plastic Surgery,” log onto http://www.aestheticsurgeryjournal.com.

From a personal point of view: I have suffered the misery of waking up from an anaesthetic and shaking with the cold…I learnt it is not a pleasant experience.

All our patients having surgery under either Sedation or General anaesthetics are warmed during the surgery. The theatre team at the commencement of the procedure place a warming blanket that is filled with air warmed to body temperature, this precaution to minimise and or prevent hypothermia is a fundamental step not only for safety but a courtesy to the patient in providing the optimal procedural experience.