Addressing Normothermia Challenges in Plastic Surgery
Augustine Surgical recently attended The Aesthetics Meeting in Miami Beach, where we showcased the HotDog® Patient Warming System—an air-free, water-free solution designed to meet the unique challenges of temperature management in plastic surgery.
Plastic surgery presents distinct risks when it comes to maintaining normothermia due to:
- Large exposed skin areas (e.g., liposuction, body contouring procedures)
- Fluids on the skin causing evaporative heat loss
Even mild hypothermia (1–2°C below normal body temperature) is associated with significant risks, including:
- 69% increase in surgical wound infections
- 21–23% increase in intraoperative blood loss
- 65% increase in transfusion requirements
- 84% increase in morbid cardiac events
- 75% increase in post-op ventricular tachycardia
- 71% increase in overall mortality
- 44% increase in post-anesthesia recovery time
- 18% increase in hospital stay duration
These statistics emphasize the importance of effective and consistent temperature management in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures.
The HotDog® Advantage: Air-Free, Water-Free Patient Warming
Unlike forced-air warming systems, which pose risks of airborne contamination and inefficiency due to evaporative cooling, HotDog® Patient Warming offers:
- Underbody and overbody warming for maximum heat transfer
- Semi-conductive polymer fabric activated by low-voltage direct current for uniform and precise heating
- A smart controller with advanced sensors to maintain safe and effective warming
- Antimicrobial, non-porous materials for enhanced infection control
- Pressure-neutral mattress overlays to improve patient comfort
Why HotDog® is Ideal for Plastic Surgery
- Eliminates the proven risk of airborne contamination from forced-air warming
- Works effectively even on wet skin (unlike convection-based forced-air systems, which promote evaporative cooling)
- Maximizes heat transfer by warming both above and below the patient
- Enhances patient comfort and satisfaction by warming the surgical table
Dr. Athleo Cambre, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, has seen first-hand the benefits of HotDog® warming:
“Since converting to HotDog… our patients emerge from anesthesia faster and in less discomfort, and [they] are ready for discharge sooner.”
Moving Forward with Smarter Patient Warming
The response at The Aesthetics Meeting was overwhelmingly positive, with surgeons eager to learn how HotDog®’s air-free warming can improve patient safety, efficiency, and outcomes in plastic surgery.
If you missed us at Booth #3004, contact us today to learn more about how HotDog® Patient Warming can transform your surgical practice!