Juniper Publishers| Forced Air Warming Device Failure Resulting in Smoke and Soot on a Surgical Patient
Journal of Surgery - JuniperPublishers Introduction Forced air warming (FAW) devices are used in the operating room to helpmaintain normothermia during anesthesia and prevent complications of hypothermia. Proper use involves connecting the hose of the warming unit to a disposable blanket with a perforation pattern that evenly distributes heat across the patient’s body. Multiple studies have shown the efficacy of FAW devices to be better than other widely used interventions such as circulating water mattresses [1]. However, as with most medical interventions there is a potential for complications with FAW devices. We present the case of a FAW device that malfunctioned after it became wet, depositing black soot on the patient. Go to Case Report A 67 year old male patient with a history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and lung cancer presented for a robotic-assisted left upper lobectomy. The patient was taken to the operating room where standard ASA monitors were applied. General anesth