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Learn More About Reusable Blood Warmer

By Margaret Snyder


It is obvious for donated blood to be refrigerated if it is not transfused to a patient after it has been donated. This is because if it is not done so, there is a high risk of it getting spoilt or dead. Therefore, this means the temperature has to lower down in a range that can be harmful to the body. In fact, when a patient is infused with this fluid when it is very cold he or she can get conditions like arrhythmias, shock or hypothermia. Therefore, as a way of reducing and eliminating these risks, reusable blood warmer provide the required and acceptable temperatures on the fluid prior to or during transfusion process.

These devices come in three different types in regard to the warming technique and technology used. The first type is the one that uses dry heat method. The other types include using a water bath and the other countercurrent. This can be done before transfusion or during the process which is referred to as in-line warming. The device, however, is made with a technology that prevents any loss of heat but it does not provide heat retaining methods.

This means that once the temperatures have been raised to the required which is in most cases is 37 degrees Celsius, this fluid has to be transfused because when not done, it will definitely cool down to the initial temperature. It also contains the ability to provide heat without tampering with living cells such as RBC and WBC.

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.

These devices are advantageous since the patients can acquire the body temperature which is necessary and the side effects such as the cold or low temperature get eradicated. Moreover, you do not have to dispose of the device together with the storage and bags. You can use again and again. You only need to fix the device in a body, or a bag in case of countercurrent and then switch it on and start operating.

However, they are drawn back by aspects like failure to have temperature maintenance ability. The only way to keep the fluid warm is by constant functioning, once switched off, they cannot maintain the attained temperature.

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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