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No doubt you've heard patients (and maybe even some of your staff) complain about feeling cold during visits to your surgical facility. But chattering teeth and goosebumps are more than just a nuisance for your patients; they're a potential danger. The physiological effects of anesthesia coupled with the relatively cool ambient temperatures in most ORs put nearly all surgical patients at risk for hypothermia — a potentially serious condition that can cause thermal discomfort, increase the risk of infection and blood loss, and lengthen recovery times. Use this quiz and the accompanying evidence-based analysis to brush up on your knowledge of perioperative hypothermia and proven strategies for preventing it.
