NICE and warm: but is it necessary?

Abstract

increase to 78% following NICE's recommendations. In 29% of audited cases an intravenous warming device was used and this would increase to 80% following NICE's recommendations. Our trust operates on approximately 30 000 cases per year. We estimate implementing NICE's recommendations would cost our Trust £300 000 per year in equipment costs alone. We fully support the routine monitoring of patients' temperature and the warming of some patients. Our audit identified the need to keep patients warm before surgery. However, in view of our low incidence of intra-operative and postoperative hypothermia, any cost benefits of warming patients to NICE's guidelines are limited which makes it hard to justify the significant cost of implementing them fully. We are not alone in these findings [2]. Moreover, these recommendations appear to be based on weak or non-existent supporting evidence.