The use of a medical warming cabinet can significantly enhance the quality of patient care—especially in the perioperative period. This type of hospital blanket warmer helps prevent hypothermia in individuals recovering from surgical procedures. But what exactly is a warming cabinet? And why does it play such an important role in patient care? Let us explain.
Medical warming cabinets – essential in preventing hypothermia
Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 36°C. It poses a serious risk to patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia and can be dangerous even in the postoperative phase. That’s why medical warming cabinets play a vital role in patient care—providing access to pre-warmed fluids and blankets. These tools, often stored in a hospital blanket warmer, help restore normothermia and stabilize the patient’s body temperature. Why is this so important?
Even a two-hour surgical procedure can lower core body temperature by 2–4°C. And the longer the surgery lasts, the more severe the hypothermia can become[1]. Its consequences can be life-threatening. Perioperative hypothermia may lead to:
- increased risk of infection – as low body temperature impairs immune system function
- greater chance of cardiac complications – hypothermia triggers catecholamine release, vasoconstriction, and elevated blood pressure, all of which increase myocardial oxygen demand.
The use of a medical warming cabinet—specifically the warmed fluids and heated blankets stored inside—is an important element of maintaining patient comfort and well-being through active warming.
Functions of the medical warming cabinet
The medical warming cabinet by EmTherm® allows for precise temperature control within a range of 25–70°C. It features a convection heating system with forced air circulation, ensuring even heat distribution and consistent temperature throughout the cabinet’s interior.
The EmTherm® blanket warming cabinet is equipped with an intuitive touchscreen panel and an easy-to-program timer. It supports both daily and weekly warming schedules. Additionally, the “boost” function enables a temporary increase in heating power, allowing for faster warming of fluids or medical accessories—especially useful in emergency situations.
Fluid warming
A medical warming cabinet is used to heat various medical fluids, including IV solutions, irrigation fluids, contrast agents, and peritoneal dialysis fluids. Thanks to convection technology, the entire volume of each fluid is evenly warmed.
Using large volumes of room-temperature IV fluids during surgery can significantly lower a patient’s core body temperature. The body must expend its own energy to warm the infused solution, which may result in hypothermia. That’s why warming infusions to 37–41°C—combined with surface warming—helps medical staff maintain normothermia throughout the procedure.[2]
Blanket warming
The same Warming cabinet can also be used to heat medical textiles. Warm blankets placed over the patient help reduce heat loss from the skin. They are used during and after medical procedures to promote patient comfort and well-being, and most importantly, to help maintain normothermia.
UV-C disinfection
Medical warming cabinets may also feature ultraviolet (UV-C) technology to disinfect the surfaces of stored items. UV-C light eliminates bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even coronaviruses. This ensures that blankets and medical fluids stored in the cabinet remain safe for use during clinical procedures.
Warming cabinets – medical equipment that supports life-saving care
Specialized warming cabinets are essential on surgical wards, intensive care units, emergency departments, and pediatric units. As part of advanced hospital infrastructure, these devices help improve treatment outcomes and enhance patient safety—especially in the perioperative period. For any facility striving to offer the highest standards of care, equipping hospital units with a medical warming cabinet or hospital blanket warmer is a step worth considering. Equally important in modern hospitals are therapeutic hypothermia devices. These technologies support the recovery of patients who have experienced cardiac arrest and remain unconscious, helping to protect neurological function and improve survival rates.
References:
- B. Horosz, A. Adamiec, M. Malec-Milewska1 , H. Misiołek, Wytyczne Polskiego Towarzystwa Anestezjologii i Intensywnej Terapii dotyczące zapobiegania niezamierzonej śródoperacyjnej hipotermii, w: Anestezjologia Intensywna Terapia 2021; 53, 5: 376–386.
- Zapobieganie hipotermii
[1] https://www.mp.pl/eras/wytyczne/126416,zapobieganie-hipotermii
[2] B. Horosz, A. Adamiec, M. Malec-Milewska1 , H. Misiołek, Wytyczne Polskiego Towarzystwa Anestezjologii i Intensywnej Terapii dotyczące zapobiegania niezamierzonej śródoperacyjnej hipotermii, w: Anestezjologia Intensywna Terapia 2021; 53, 5: 376–386.