Some Information On Reusable Blood Warmer

By Rosella Campbell


Blood warming is a highly sought after practice, especially since this red liquid is kept refrigerated in storage until it's needed for transfusion. When patients needs very rapid transfusions during resuscitation, administration of ice-cold ones could induce hypothermia, this is where a reusable blood warmer will come in as handy. Therefore, these methods are pivotal to successfully fulfill patients' needs.

Use of warming devices for the transfusions is appropriate in cases of resuscitation when rapid transfusions are needed. A patient might fall into hypothermia from administration of fluid that is too cold. Medical professionals are urged to avoid this situation at all times.

If the volume to be administrated exceeds 25%, medical staff should use the warming device prior to transfusion. It is highly probable that more units might be needed in such situations, and using the device will aid the fast transfusions required.

Patients that have cold agglutinins also need transfusions with warm blood. In cases that involve neonates, treatment with special care should be considered by the medical staff as well. Patients that might be have high risk of cardiac dysfunction from transfusions, as well as children or elderly patients, should benefit of the same amount of attention and extra care as patients previously mentioned.

Medical staff must only use certified equipment that offers specific features when warming is required. A visible thermometer must be attached at all times to these medical warming devices, and must also contain an audible alarm that has to be functioning and raise attention if the temperature exceeds a value higher than 41 degree celsius.

Warming equipment has several extra advantages. It can warm both this red liquid and IV fluids, making it a diverse tool used for multi-purpose medical use. The device can reach temperatures of 38 degree celsius with a flow rate of ~2-150 mL/min, and the heater is adjusted automatically when needed. They can also increase the fluid's temperature by 10 degree celsius, having a flow rate of 40 mL/min.

Maintenance of these devices should be done every 12 months, and should be carefully monitored. If proper care is disregarded and the device malfunctions, it can become extremely dangerous when the blood is needed most.

Theatres, ASCU, maternal-fetal medicine, nurseries, 6B nurseries and 6D PICU are all locations where these medical warming devices can be found. When the medical staff uses these devices, they have to write down the operating temperature. Again, blood transfusions are recommended only by using these devices.

Professional warming devices can process all sorts of standard infusions. A backup battery is included, and the devices are portable and light-weight. Completing setup takes about 45 seconds, and they are to be disposed when the transfusion is over.

Nowadays, the medical staff can use disposable fluid warmers (blood and IV fluids), all thanks to technology which has evolved immensely in the medical industry. Thermiflow fluid warmers, the most recently developed disposable devices, are self-powered medical machines. They are activated automatically when exposed to the atmospheric air, and can offer changes in temperature of 10 degree celsius with a 40 mL/min flow rate.




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