Watch this video, which shows the surgical draping process for a simulated hip replacement. The draping process starts by sealing the Bair Hugger warming blanket to the patient’s chest with an adhesive strip so that air cannot escape back toward the surgical site. Next, a cotton blanket is placed over the upper body blanket followed by multiple layers of surgical drapes. Finally, a surgical drape separates the surgical site from the anesthesia team. Any excess air is exhausted near the patient’s neck and shoulders and behind that surgical drape. Despite these and other safeguards, surgical site infections do occur for a variety of reasons. But the Bair Hugger warming blanket is not the cause of them.
