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.

When people donate blood, it goes to banks for storage, usually at very low temperatures. Patients who have experienced massive blood loss will require more pints to boost levels back to normal. Since what is being added is at a lower temperature than what the body can accommodate, it can easily lead to hypothermia. This medical condition is known to have a number of effects, some which could even harm the patient.

To avoid cases of hypothermia, medical practitioners recommend the use of warmers. These devices warm fluids that are about to be transfused into patients. This device is not used in all transfusions. It is only recommended during cases where the patient requires large transfusions, such as those that have gone through massive trauma. This is why it is vital for your doctor to conduct a series of tests before recommending warming of fluids.

It is important however, that when warming blood, temperatures should be checked to avoid hemolysis. This is where red cells are destroyed before reaching their normal lifespan. Such a condition would be counterproductive to the transfusion procedure. Once these red cells are destroyed, it would be useless trying to carry out a transfusion since the patient would only be receiving cytoplasm and plasma.

Transfusion procedures are not just limited to fluid warmers. Medical practitioners also use different pressure infusion devices, such as cuffs. When using this device, it is important for the doctor to follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer regarding the use of catheters, filters and ports. In cases where these instructions are not followed, catheter wall rapture may occur or even the rapture of vessels.

The use of these devices during transfusions can increase the odds of getting better clinical results. Conditions such as hypothermia are known to cause a number of clinical conditions including longer stay at the hospital. Lengthened stay at the hospital means paying more at the end of the day. With these equipment however, such scenarios are avoided and patients end up with superior clinical experience.

From the foregoing, it should not come as a surprise that most regulatory agencies demand all medical facilities to comply with contemporary patient warming techniques. They go a long way towards enhancing clinical outcomes. Furthermore, patients often experience improved comfort during clinical procedures.




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