Guidelines And Tips On Reusable Blood Warmer

By Rosella Campbell


When blood is kept refrigerated in storage until it is used in transfusion, it is a common practice in the medical field these days to use warming. A reusable blood warmer is recommended in various situations such as this. The medical needs specific to the individual patient, along with outside factors, should be taken in consideration by the medical staff when making decisions about administering this red liquid.

Medical staff should use warming devices when the volume intended for transfusion measures at 25% of the required amount of the patient's body. In many cases, medical professionals may be required to quickly administer a large number of units of this red liquid, and the temperature in these mass transfusions must be adequate to safely be transfused into the body.

A warming device is also needed when transfusing this life-saving fluid to patients that have cold agglutinins disease. It's also required if the patient is a newborn, special care and consideration should be taken for the delicate nature of the body. The same attention must be made to patients with high risk of cardiac dysfunction, geriatric, or pediatric patients.

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.

In situations that require this red liquid to be warmed, medical staff should only use professional equipment. Medical warming devices normally have an attached visible thermometer. They also need to be equipped with a functioning audible alarm that can alert the staff in case the temperature goes beyond a value higher than 41 degree celsius.

Several advantages are offered by these devices. Besides warming this red liquid, they can also transfer IV fluids, making them practical in multi-purposed cases. Temperatures of 38 degree celsius can be easily reached with a flow rate between ~2-150 mL/min, and a heater with automatic adjustment is provided when needed.

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.

Places like blood banks should be informed immediately if the temperature of this vital fluid is higher than 41 degree celsius. The devices can also be found in ASCU, theatres, special care nurseries, maternal/fetal medicine, 6B nurseries, and 6D PICU. They are all places where there can be no chance of malfunction.

All sets of standard infusion can be processed by professional warming devices. They offer a backup battery, light-weight, and portable. It takes about 45 seconds to complete the setup, and they are disposable when the job is completed.

Disposable fluid warmers are one of the latest innovations in technology and the medical industry. Also known as thermiflow fluid warmers, they are self-powered and high functioning. Thermiflow devices are activated automatically when exposed to the atmospheric air, allowing it to be efficient as soon as it is required. All these features make blood warmers essential to all areas of medicine, and make transfusions much safer for patients.




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