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01 October 2017

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 are of different kinds depending on their technique of warming and the technology used. The first type uses the method of dry heat. Other types are the countercurrent and using the water bath. You need to do this during the process of in-line warming or before transfusion. However, the device does not offer the methods of retaining heat despite being made with a technology which prevents loss of heat.

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.

Nevertheless, they are able to provide heat and warmth to this fluid without affecting the functioning and structure of living cells like white and red blood cells as well as other cells. These devices are therefore important and are usually used during transfusion of large amounts of blood such as half or above half of the whole body volume. They also play important role in providing the necessary temperature when transfusion is to be done in a rapid manner.

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.

It is an advantageous device as the patients are able to attain the required body temperatures and any side effect of low or cold temperatures is eradicated. Another benefit of this device is that it does not get disposed of together with the bags and storage. It is used again and again. In the case of countercurrent, it only requires fixing it to the bag or the body and switching it on and starts 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.

Additionally, it does not mean that the body temperature will rise when you infuse the warm fluids in your bloodstream. They are just therapeutic options for offering warmth.




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