Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026
06:43
Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
Published on: November 21, 2017
25.3K
The Effects of Local Warming on Surgical Site Infection
JoAnne D Whitney1, E Patchen Dellinger2, James Weber1
11 Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington.
Surgical Infections
|July 1, 2015
Summary
Post-operative localized warming of surgical incisions did not reduce surgical site infections (SSI). While tissue oxygenation improved, there were no significant differences in SSI rates or cellular responses between groups.
Area of Science:
- Surgical innovation and patient outcomes
- Infection control in surgical settings
- Wound healing and tissue response
Background:
- Surgical site infections (SSI) are a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections, leading to increased morbidity and healthcare costs.
- Reducing SSI is a priority in surgical care improvement initiatives.
- Identifying effective interventions to minimize SSI is crucial for patient safety and resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of localized post-operative warming of surgical incisions on SSI development.
- To assess the effects of localized warming on cellular and tissue responses, including immune and endothelial cells, oxygenation, and collagen synthesis.
- To determine if localized warming can be an effective intervention for reducing SSI in high-risk surgical patients.
Main Methods:
- A single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 146 patients undergoing major abdominal or gynecologic-oncologic surgery.
- Patients were assigned to receive either local incision warming (6 post-operative treatments) or standard non-warming care.
- Outcomes included SSI rates (CDC criteria), ASEPSIS scores, tissue oxygenation (PscO2), and cellular/collagen responses analyzed via ePTFE tube samples.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in the overall rate of surgical site infections (SSI) between the warming and non-warming groups (18% incidence, p=0.27).
- Warmed patients showed improved ASEPSIS scores at 2 weeks (p=0.04), but this was not sustained at 6 weeks.
- A modest but significant increase in post-operative tissue oxygenation (PscO2) was observed in the warmed group on days 1-2 (p<0.04).
Conclusions:
- Post-operative localized warming of surgical incisions, combined with intra-operative warming and high FIO2, did not reduce the incidence of SSI.
- The intervention did not significantly affect immune cell, endothelial cell, or collagen synthesis responses.
- While localized warming increased tissue oxygenation, the effect was modest and did not translate into a reduction in SSI rates.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
14.6K
The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
14.6K
01:12Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
1.0K
While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
1.0K
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
78
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
78
01:28Factors Affecting Body Temperature
10.0K
As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:
Factors may include:
10.0K
01:29Decreased Body Temperature
1.2K
A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by...
1.2K
01:28Asepsis
3.9K
The condition of being free from disease-causing living pathogens is asepsis. Aseptic techniques include a set of standard practices to achieve asepsis. An example is the regular environmental cleaning of all parts of the healthcare facility and hand hygiene at home before preparing or eating food. Medical and surgical asepsis in healthcare practice protects patients from harmful pathogens, minimizes the risk of contamination of susceptible sites, and reduces the risk of infection transmission.
3.9K