OREANDA-NEWS. Today 3M, a world leader in infection prevention, announced the publication of a robust research compendium highlighting the safety and effectiveness of the 3M™ Bair Hugger™ patient warming system. The most comprehensive compilation of more than 200 studies across a wide range of surgeries – including hip, knee, cardiac and abdominal procedures – the compendium reinforces the sheer volume of extensive research and history of the clinical use of patient warming systems.

“The compendium is an impressive pr?cis of clinically-relevant and high-quality results that document the clinical observations and research strategies regarding the Bair Hugger patient warming system,” said Javad Parvizi, M.D., James Edwards Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel School of Medicine, Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University. “The papers in the compendium cover a broad range of topics including basic physiology, safety, effectiveness, and health economics.”

Introduced in 1987, the Bair Hugger system has been used by more than 200 million patients in hospitals worldwide – a number that continues to grow by nearly 50,000 patients every day – and has been utilized in far more published studies than any other patient warming modality. The compendium includes summaries of paper abstracts in which the Bair Hugger system was either the subject of, or used during a clinical investigation, review articles, case studies and letters to the editor, which introduce relevant information or real-world user experience with the Bair Hugger system. Additionally, the compendium touches on four major themes including hypothermia, infection control, orthopedic surgery and cardiovascular surgery.

“This compendium represents the largest body of evidence supporting patient warming, specifically the Bair Hugger system,” said Michelle Stevens, M.D., chief medical officer, 3M Infection Prevention Division. “Since its inception, the Bair Hugger system has been the gold standard in patient warming devices, and this expertly compiled evidence reaffirms the safety and effectiveness of this system.”

The compendium was assembled utilizing multiple search engines and five databases, including Medline, Embase, Biosis, Elsevier Biobase and Chemical Abstracts. Several of the included studies measure the performance of the Bair Hugger system against competing technologies, ranging from convection warming to resistive polymer technologies.

“3M’s dedication to compiling this compendium demonstrates its commitment to providing the health care community with a greater understanding of patient warming systems,” said Linda Groah, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN, Executive Director/CEO of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. “This transparent and comprehensive collection of information will serve as a valuable tool for perioperative nurses, anesthesiologists, orthopedic surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, infection control specialists and epidemiologists who are seeking to provide the highest quality of care for their patients.”

The compendium is meant to be used by readers to grasp the scope of research specific to the Bair Hugger patient warming system and the clinical benefits associated with its use. Arranged in chronological order, with search functionality and a detailed index, the compendium features scientific, peer-reviewed literature published from 1989 to 2016.

The 3M Infection Prevention Division, which led the development of the compendium, is dedicated to providing health care professionals with solutions to minimize the risk of health care-associated infections. 3M has introduced more than 40 distinct technology platforms and a comprehensive portfolio of quality products – including the 3M Bair Hugger therapy, the 3M™ Bair Paws™ patient adjustable warming system, the 3M™ Ranger™ blood and fluid warming systems and the 3M™ SpotOn™ temperature monitoring system that help the healthcare industry define and address current infection prevention best practices.

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