Why is it important to ensure patients are adequately warmed in PACU?

Ensuring that patients are adequately warmed in the PACU is crucial to prevent hypothermia, which can significantly impact recovery. When patients are under anesthesia, their body temperature can drop due to various factors, including exposure to cool operating room temperatures or the effects of anesthetic agents. Hypothermia can lead to several complications, such as increased risk of wound infections, prolonged recovery times, and cardiovascular instability.

Maintaining normothermia helps to stabilize the body's metabolic processes, improves the effectiveness of the immune response, and reduces the likelihood of complications during the recovery phase. Thus, properly warming patients is an essential component of post-anesthesia care to ensure they recover safely and effectively.