title: Thermal softening of tracheal tubes: an unrecognized hazard of the Bair Hugger active patient warming system.
abstract: The Bair Hugger system is a new and highly effective active patient warming system which produces a layer of warm air between the patient and the warming system. We report an instance of marked softening and distortion of a polyvinyl chloride tracheal tube caused by this layer. We also present laboratory data indicating that this is a likely problem under routine theatre conditions, with suggestions for prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Scunthorpe Hospital NHS Trust, Cliff Gardens.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coe
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride