Advantages Of Using Blood Warmer Cuff During Medical Procedures

By Mark Cooper


The medical industry has grown exponentially over the last couple of decades to include delicate procedures such as organ transplants and transfusion. While the start of these procedures may not have been effective during the pioneer years, rapid growth in technology has resulted in astonishing successes being recorded. When undertaking transfusion, most medical practitioners today recommend the use of a blood warmer cuff.

Many are eager to discover why this equipment is crucial in transfusion procedures. Nonetheless, it would be wiser to first understand the dangers that come with transfusion. When you visit a hospital in the hope of undergoing a surgical procedure, you may want to confirm from the medical practitioners whether they will be using this device among many others that continue to make significant contributions towards successful transfusions.

One of the most serious conditions that is associated with transfusion is known as hypothermia. Usually, the body operates under an optimum temperature. When this temperature goes low beyond the recommended levels, normal body functions are inhibited. During transfusion, cold blood products are added to the patients to boost their levels. This products requires warming to increase its temperature to that of the body.

Hypothermia, however, is not a condition associated with all transfusions. Patients in need of only a few pints of blood are unlikely to suffer from hypothermia. There are cases however, where patients lose too much of their internal body fluids, such as during massive trauma. This calls for massive transfusions of fluids into the body of the patient, making warmers a useful equipment to avert hypothermia.

When using these fluid warmers, doctors are advised to keep a keen eye on temperature. If you find a careless medical practitioner, any rise in temperature above the recommended warming levels will result in hemolysis. This is a situation where red blood cells are raptured due to high temperatures. Transfusion of such fluids into the patient is likely to cause more harm instead of helping them recover.

Besides patients needing the transfusion of warm fluids into their bodies, it is also recommended that these fluids are transferred at certain pressure rates. When it comes to pressure infusion, cuffs are one of the devices that could be used. When using this device, it is critical to follow the instructions of the manufacturer so as not to exceed the recommended pressure levels.

When these devices are used, patients record superior clinical results. Hypothermia, for instance, is known to lengthen the stay of the patient at the hospital since it makes them recover slower than usual. Looking at this from the perspective of paying bills, it is more costly to the patient. Thanks to these devices however, patients do not have to worry about the severe consequences of hypothermia.

Patient warming practices are used in surgery centers, clinics and hospitals to improve the comfort of the patient and clinical outcomes. However, this is also one of the policies set by regulatory agencies, which doctors have to comply with. All the same, their use has more advantages than their disadvantages.




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