Biomaterial Database

Comparison of fluid warmer performance during simulated clinical conditions. 1995

N Patel, and C E Smith, and A C Pinchak

Department of Anesthesia, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA.

The study evaluated the warming ability and flow rates associated with four fluid warming devices during pressure driven infusion and during wide open gravity driven roller clamp infusion. Warmers tested were the Astotherm, Flotem IIe, Level 1 System 250 and a modified cardioplegia heat exchanger. Fluids tested were crystalloid, red cells diluted with 200 ml, 0.9% saline, and undiluted red cells. The volume of fluid and outlet temperatures (point where i.v. tubing would be attached to the patient) were measured for each fluid and compared among warmers for each flow rate condition. For pressure driven infusion of red cells and crystalloid, the System 250, and modified heat exchanger delivered warmer fluids (33-35 degrees C) at higher flow rates (160-740 ml.min-1) than the Astotherm and Flotem (23-31 degrees C, 44-268 ml.min-1, P < 0.05). For gravity driven infusion, the System 250 delivered the warmest fluids (33-36 degrees C, P < 0.05) compared with the modified heat exchanger (29-35 degrees C), Astotherm (26-32 degrees C) and Flotem (26-27 degrees C). In conclusion, the modified heat exchanger and System 250 were moderately effective (outlet temperature > 32 degrees C) in warming crystalloid and red cells at pressure driven flow rates. Only the System 250 warmed red cells > 35 degrees C at gravity driven flow rates. The Flotem and Astotherm were not effective in warming rapidly infused solutions. None of the warmers tested was able to deliver fluids at normothermia (> 36.5 degrees C).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007035	Hypothermia	Lower than normal body temperature, especially in warm-blooded animals.	Hypothermia, Accidental,Accidental Hypothermia,Accidental Hypothermias,Hypothermias,Hypothermias, Accidental
D007431	Intraoperative Complications	Complications that affect patients during surgery. They may or may not be associated with the disease for which the surgery is done, or within the same surgical procedure.	Peroperative Complications,Surgical Injuries,Complication, Intraoperative,Complication, Peroperative,Injuries, Surgical,Complications, Intraoperative,Complications, Peroperative,Injury, Surgical,Intraoperative Complication,Peroperative Complication,Surgical Injury
D001769	Blood	The body fluid that circulates in the vascular system (BLOOD VESSELS). Whole blood includes PLASMA and BLOOD CELLS.
D004867	Equipment Design	Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware.	Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D006361	Heating	The application of heat to raise the temperature of the environment, ambient or local, or the systems for accomplishing this effect. It is distinguished from HEAT, the physical property and principle of physics.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012965	Sodium Chloride	A ubiquitous sodium salt that is commonly used to season food.	Sodium Chloride, (22)Na,Sodium Chloride, (24)NaCl
D013696	Temperature	The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms.	Temperatures
D017680	Potassium Compounds	Inorganic compounds that contain potassium as an integral part of the molecule.	Compounds, Potassium