CABATBAT, Wyen C.

NCM104A Skills Lecture

BS Nursing III A May8, 2019

What is BAIR Hugger?

It is forced air warming blanket (Bair Hugger 3M, Model 637; Maplewood, MN) is used
which distributes warm air at 43°C around the body. A heat and moisture exchange filter are
inserted into the ventilation tubing, and the patients’ arms are wrapped in towels.

How does it work?

The Bair Hugger surgical warming blanket is made up of three parts: the warming unit, the
blanket, and the hose. There are different warming unit models depending on the type of surgery,
as well as different varieties of blankets. The hose connects these two devices together. The Bair
Hugger works by sending warm air from the warming unit through the hose and into the
disposable blanket, which is draped over a patient during surgery. The blanket itself also has drain
holes where excess fluids pass through the surface of the blanket to the linen underneath. Bair
Hugger blankets are disposable to reduce the chance of infection between patients.

Journal: BAIR Hugger Effective or Not?

The study demonstrates that the forced-air warming mattress Bair Hugger® 585 is as effective in
preventing preoperative hypothermia in morbidly obese as in non-obese patients. However, the
incidence of dysfunctions when using the device was increased in overweight patients, which
does not make it a practical system in a context of morbid obesity.