Learn More About Reusable Blood Warmer

By Margaret Snyder


Generally, when you donate blood and is not transfused to a patient at that time, it has to be stored in a refrigerator so as to enhance its life. Obvious, the temperature in a refrigerator is far much below the normal body blood temperature. It happens that this ice-cold fluid is transfused into the body system, conditions like hyperthermia, arrhythmias, and shock are likely to occur. That is why reusable blood warmer are used so as to provide the fluid with the necessary and appropriate temperature before being incorporated into the body.

They are classified in three categories following the technology or technique used to provide heat. They include dry heat that uses hot air, water bath devices that use hot water as a heating medium and lastly the countercurrent machines which use electric power to provide heating. The process of raising the temperature is usually done in the cabinets before being transfused into the patient or in line during the transfusion activity.

However, they are made without the ability to maintain or retain temperature. Once they make the fluid reach the set temperature, they cannot maintain that range until restarted. That is why, when the device accomplishes the goal, that is raising the temperature to around 37 degrees Celsius, it is now taken into the patient body. If this is not done, the fluid is likely going to lower the temperature again.

Mostly, you need to use these devices during the process of transferring blood to a patient that requires not less than fifty percent of blood volume of their body. Also, you can use the devices when the amount you want to administer needs urgency or when you need to do it rapidly. The reason is that when you transfuse a higher amount of the cold fluid into the body, then the cases mentioned are likely to emerge because of the temperature will lower to the range which gets recommended. If the patient has cold agglutinins, then you can use these devices.

However, you need to consider specific things before you administer the process to the patients who are neonates, elderly, pediatric, as well as those who have cardiac dysfunction and chronic infections. You need to operate the device before you start the entire exercise since it cannot be switched on, and on the other hand it will provide the temperature you require.

The devices are supposed to be in operation mode prior to the exercise so as to provide temperature rise in a gradual and systematic way not in a random way that can affect the cells. When properly utilized, negative effects associated with cold temperature will not be experienced. The devices, on the other hand, are not disposed after a single use as they are reused. They are also convenient devices more the countercurrent that requires auto start-stop to keep the required temperature.

However, it has certain limitations such as failure or temperature maintain technology. It can only prevent loss of heat by active warming but does not have a way in which the patient can be kept warm. That is why other methods like warming, water, blankets as well as pads can be used as another way or remedy to conditions like hypothermia.

Infusing warm fluids in the bloodstream does not necessarily mean that the body temperature will rise. They are just remedial ways of providing warmth.




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