why are OR's so cold

[brownbook]

Why are OR's cold? So many surgeries are 1 - 2 hours max, out-patient cases, the patient is not deeply sedated, they are awake enough to feel the cold. We use Bair Huggers pre and post op but the patients freeze in the OR. Some surgeons allow Bair Huggers to be used in the OR but why is there even the need for one? Why is the OR so cold!

[brownbook]

Hi, I know you OR nurses and techs work very hard, pass out, too hot, lead aprons, beads of sweat, etc. I completely understand. I've never been a circulating nurse but have been in OR's enough, and have worn lead aprons. Anyway, no I don't want the medical or support staff passing out. I've seen reputable evidence that keeping the patient warm helps with healing, this is in response to the last comment, not more argument that the OR is too cold, a good reason for us pre and post op nurses to put on the Bair Hugger.

[celclt]

lol, no I really meant I wonder if there are advantages to the hypothermia- they will cool trauma and NICu babies--brrr!

[celclt]

for your docs freezing you out, evidence based research-yay!NICE Guidance Aims To Prevent Hypothermia In Patients Undergoing Surgery, UK

[redraccoon, BSN, RN]

We're not talking fuzzy slippers and a beer comfort.... we're talking not passing out from heat exhaustion comfort.

Put on all that surgical garb.... gown, gloves, mask, hat, shoe covers, and then stand under the lights for hours.... ya. You're hotter than a Big Mac.

Warming in the pre op, warm fluids, warm blankies, and bair hugger type systems - on all patients... really helps... and keeps the staff from dropping like flies.

[RNTutor, BSN, RN]

I worked in a pediatric OR, and the anesthesiologists were huge advocates for proper temperature regulation!! It was not unusual for them to ask us to turn up the room temp, sometimes even up to 85 degrees to prepare for a NICU baby coming in.

Luckily for everyone scrubbed in, they would usually let us turn the room temp down again once the pt was bair hugged and draped.

[TCASII, ADN]

Anesthesiologists are a funny bunch though. I always used to laugh at the ones who'd bundle up in a blanket like they were a geriatric pt. The funniest thing I remember seeing was one anesthesiologist standing on his little chair that spins all over the place trying to put that pink foam over the register in the ceiling. Meanwhile, chunks of dust were dropping all over the place, LOL. Idiot.

I was outside watching and wondering what was gonna happen when he fell right on the patient and surgical site. Very dangerous with that rolling chair. Then the dust. I'm not sure the surgeon ever saw the dust, but it was hard to miss.

[AnnGullberg]

The temp is low to reduce environmental bacteria. And those who are scrubbed get very hot if the temp is too high..The hats, gloves, gowns, X-ray aprons make for a very hot OR crew. We use forced air warmers on most patients. We raise the room temp for kids and emergencies. But if there is a problem with the chillers, I have seen the OR come to a complete halt. We can't work if the humidity and heat are too high.

[NurseLumpia]

I just had this happen to me today.

I was scrubbing and wore a 2 piece lead and thyroid shield plus surgical gown and under the lights then having the CArm in the room.

The room temp was a cool temp of 70 and after 5 hours I literally could ring my scrubs of sweat.

Our thermostat in the room was malfunctioning and the AC couldn't go any lower, maint was 'working on it'.

I was suprised the team didn't pass out from dehaydration

[BridgetJones]

Anesthesiologists are a funny bunch though. I always used to laugh at the ones who'd bundle up in a blanket like they were a geriatric pt. The funniest thing I remember seeing was one anesthesiologist standing on his little chair that spins all over the place trying to put that pink foam over the register in the ceiling. Meanwhile, chunks of dust were dropping all over the place, LOL. Idiot.

I was outside watching and wondering what was gonna happen when he fell right on the patient and surgical site. Very dangerous with that rolling chair. Then the dust. I'm not sure the surgeon ever saw the dust, but it was hard to miss.

HAHA! We have one anesthesiologist that puts the Bair Hugger hose down his shirt and falls asleep...not even kidding.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I know this is an old post, but I have to put in my two cents. I work mainly in ortho OR, and when we do total joints that require cement, our surgeon asks us to lower the room temp to 67.1 because if the room is too warm, the cement hardens faster and he is not able to mold it the way he wants to. We also still use hoods and laminar flow during total joint cases, and this makes the surgeons WARM.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

HAHA! We have one anesthesiologist that puts the Bair Hugger hose down his shirt and falls asleep...not even kidding.

Yup. We have one of those too! This is also the same anesthesiologist who uses the suction to...uh...clean out the room when he is gassy!

[sameasalways, ASN, RN]

I don't know what suction you are talking about but I wish I had one for my car when my teenage boys are gassy.