A Reusable Alternative to Bair Hugger® Forced-air Warming
Compare HotDog® Air-Free Patient Warming with forced-air systems. Use the priorities that matter to your facility.
Start with patient warming performance. Then compare procedure coverage, supply reliability, cost, and ease of implementation.
PERIOPERATIVE TEAM FEEDBACK
“The OR team has been very pleased with the ease of use, performance and cost savings the system has brought to our 3 transplant rooms.”
UAB Medicine
“The staff loves [HotDog] and is fighting over who gets to use it!”
Carmel Ambulatory Surgery Center
COMPARE THE SYSTEMS
How do they work?
Bair Hugger forced-air warming blows heated air through an air-filled blanket. Published studies have shown that forced-air waste heat can disrupt OR airflow and transport particles toward the sterile field. HotDog warms conductively from above and below without forced airflow.
Bair Hugger Forced-Air Warming
HotDog Air-Free Conductive Warming
Decision Area | Bair Hugger | HotDog |
Warming Method | A blower fills a blanket with heated air. | Low-voltage conductive fabric transfers heat through direct contact. |
Patient Coverage | Coverage depends on the selected disposable forced-air blanket. | Reusable Blankets and Mattresses can warm above and below simultaneously. |
Air Movement | Creates and exhausts heated air. | Uses no blower, hose, or forced airflow. |
Supply Model | Single-use warming blankets must be stocked and discarded. | Warming devices are reusable. |
Procedure Planning | Teams select from many SKUs for a forced-air blanket that fits the position and available surface area. | The choice is simple: warm from above and below. |
Financial Model | Recurring disposable cost rises with utilization. | Reusable-system spreads cost across procedures. |
CLINICAL EVIDENCE
See How HotDog Performs Against Forced-Air Warming
Comparative studies have demonstrated warmer patient temperatures and faster warming with HotDog in several surgical settings and warming configurations.
Ikeda et al.
No Company Support
40
Patient temperature increased with HotDog
In respiratory surgery patients, temperature increased significantly with HotDog while decreasing with Bair Hugger forced-air warming. The authors attributed the difference to earlier warming and greater warming surface area.
Ohki Et Al.
No Company Support
35
Warming temperatures through most of surgery
In total knee arthroplasty, HotDog above-and-below warming produced warmer core temperatures during much of the procedure versus forced-air plus a water mattress.
Sugai Et Al.
No Company Support
0.35°C/hr
Higher warming rate with greater coverage
In this randomized trial, HotDog warming from above and below was compared with forced-air warming. the reported warming rates were 0.35°C/hr and 0.01°C/hr, respectively.
PROCEDURE FIT
Configure Warming Around the Patient Position
HotDog’s reusable portfolio supports adult and pediatric care, designed to suit your surgical needs. Final device selection and placement should follow current labeling and the patient’s position, size, pressure considerations and exposed surface area.
Pre/Post-Op
Supine
Supine (Arms Tucked)
Supine (Arms Out)
Lithotomy
Supine (Arms Out)
Spine
Fracture Table
SUPPLY AND COST MODEL
Compare Lifecycle Cost–Not Just Unit Price
A hospital-specific model should include case volume, current blanket mix, utilization, acquisition method, device replacement timing, cleaning workflow, storage, waste handling and staff time.
How the Supply Cycle Changes
Forced-Air Disposables
Repeats By Case
Order
Store
Use
Discard
Reorder
HotDog Reusable Devices
Managed Lifecycle
Deploy
Clean
Inspect
Reuse
Cleaning, inspection, barriers, and replacement must follow current instructions for use and facility policy.
Real Cost Savings
Regional Medical Center
A Four-OR, 3,000-case facility example illustrates why volume and current disposable price belong in the model.
Previous FAW Spend
$21,000/yr
Annualized HotDog Cost
$9,826/yr
HotDog Cost Per Case
$3.28
Reported Savings
53.2%
Source: HotDog Cost Effective brochure, M123EN. Customer examples are not guarantees; actual costs and savings vary by facility. Based on a four-year period. Request your own inputs.
Warming with Optional Return Electrode
Adult HotDog Mattresses combine patient warming with a capacitive return electrode for compatible isolated monopolar electrosurgical generators. Confirm generator compatibility and follow the current instructions for use.
EVALUATION PATH
How Much Can You Save?
1
Tell Us About Your ORs
Share your OR count, case volume, and current warming setup.
2
Get Your Comparison
We map HotDog configurations and estimated lifecycle cost for your facility.
3
Evaluate HotDog
We provide the system, training, and support for an OR evaluation.
Prefer to speak with us?
Ready. Warm. Go!
"*" indicates required fields