Bender M, Self B, Schroeder E, Giap B Comparing new-technology passive warming versus traditional passive warming methods for optimizing perioperative body core temperature. AORN J. 2015 Aug;102(2):183.e1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2015.06.005.
Cooper S The effect of preoperative warming on patients' postoperative temperatures. AORN J. 2006 May;83(5):1073-6, 1079-84; quiz 1085-8. Review.
Deren ME, Machan JT, DiGiovanni CW, Ehrlich MG, Gillerman RG Prewarming operating rooms for prevention of intraoperative hypothermia during total knee and hip arthroplasties. J Arthroplasty. 2011 Dec;26(8):1380-6. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2010.12.019. Epub 2011 Feb 12.
Savage JW, Anderson PA An update on modifiable factors to reduce the risk of surgical site infections. Spine J. 2013 Sep;13(9):1017-29. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2013.03.051. Epub 2013 May 24. Review.
Sessler DI Mild perioperative hypothermia. N Engl J Med. 1997 Jun 12;336(24):1730-7. Review.
The Effect of Maintenance of Normothermia With Active Warming on Surgical Site Infections in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
