The results of this study suggest that preoperative warming can reduce rates of SSI after surgery .
OBJECTIVE To determine whether preoperative warming can reduce the risk of surgical site infection ( SSI ) after surgery .
BACKGROUND Intraoperative hypothermia is a risk factor for the occurrence of  SSI in patients after surgery .
However , the effectiveness of preoperative warming in reducing the incidence of the condition remains unclear .
Normothermia to Prevent Surgical Site Infections After Gastrointestinal Surgery: Holy Grail or False Idol?
Objective : To analyze the association between perioperative normothermia ( temperature ≥36 ° C ) and  surgical site infections ( SSIs ) after gastrointestinal ( GI ) surgery . Summary of Background Data : Although active warming during colorectal surgery reduces SSIs , there is limited evidence that perioperative normothermia is associated with lower rates of SSI . Nonetheless , hospitals participating in the Surgical Care Improvement Project must report normothermia rates during major surgery . Methods : We conducted a nested , matched , case-control study ; cases consisted of GI surgery patients enrolled in our National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data base between March 2006 and March 2009 who developed SSIs . Patient/surgery risk factors for SSI were obtained from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data base . Perioperative temperature/antibiotic/glucose data were obtained from medical records . Cases/controls were compared using univariate/r and om effects/logistic regression models . Independent risk factors for SSIs were identified using multivariate/r and om effects/logistic regression models . Results : A total of 146 cases and 323 matched controls were identified ; 82 % of patients underwent noncolorectal surgery . Cases were more likely to have final intraoperative normothermia compared with controls ( 87.6 % vs. 77.8 % , P = 0.015 ) ; rates of immediate postoperative normothermia were similar ( 70.6 % vs. 65.3 % , respectively , P = 0.19 ) . Emergent surgery/higher wound class were associated with higher rates of intraoperative normothermia . Independent risk factors for SSI were diabetes , surgical complexity , small bowel surgery , and nonlaparoscopic surgery . There was no independent association between perioperative normothermia and SSI ( adjusted odds ratio , 1.05 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.48–2.33 ; P = 0.90 ) . Conclusions : Pay-for-reporting measures focusing on perioperative normothermia may be of limited value in preventing SSI after GI surgery . Studies to define the benefit of active warming after noncolorectal GI surgery are warranted
The results of this study suggest that preoperative warming can reduce rates of SSI after surgery .
OBJECTIVE To determine whether preoperative warming can reduce the risk of surgical site infection ( SSI ) after surgery .
BACKGROUND Intraoperative hypothermia is a risk factor for the occurrence of  SSI in patients after surgery .
However , the effectiveness of preoperative warming in reducing the incidence of the condition remains unclear .