Passive warming includes interventions to promote heat retention (e.g. cotton blankets, reflective blankets). Active warming involves the application of external heat to skin and peripheral tissues (e.g. forced air warming (FAW), underbody conductive heat mat, circulating water mattress, and radiant warmer).

What is rapid rewarming?

Rapid rewarming causes an increase in the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen that is temporarily unmatched by cerebral blood flow. A study during cardiopulmonary bypass in rabbits. Anesthesiology.

What are some sources of heat that can be used for rewarming?

It can be accomplished by a variety of methods, including heat packs, heat lamps, blankets, warm water immersion, warmed blankets, and forced air systems. Patients must be monitored carefully for a presumptive afterdrop, caused by the return of cool peripheral blood to the central circulation.