Fluid Warming

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Is anyone still using warmed fluids? I know the buzz lately is induced hypothermia for some cases, but we still have a lot of patients with low core temps that need quick re-warming. Also, what do you use?

Thanks,

DN, EMT

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Specializes in icu/er.

we utilize fluid warmers in the hospital setting for both ivfs and blood products. we use them for the elderly, truamas, exsposure pts and so forth. however, we do not have a warmer for the fluids on the transport ambulances.

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

Induced hypothermia is only for specific, controlled cases. Mostly post arrest. Traumas should NOT be cold. As little as .5 C drop can begin coagulopathies.

The cheap and easy way to keep fluids warm is to have them on an electric warming pad. Definitely better than nothing. Or keep them warm in the base, and put them in a small soft cooler for flight.

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thanks for the replies. we are currently in the process of investigating a couple of portable warmers for our ambulances. the one's we have used in the past have not maintained a constant temp. we started measuring too see and were surprised. yes, a cabinet or heating pad is better than nothing. we are looking at enflow and thermal angel since they both are battery powered. keep you posted on the evaluation.

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After a 2 week evaluation, we went with the Thermal Angel, mainly due to their new lightweight battery. Plus it was faster/easier to setup, and was a more intuative system. Performed great. Kept the infusate warm the whole time. EMS folks can get them through Bound Tree; not sure about hospital customers though. Anyway here's the new system: http://www.thermalangel.com/html/products/catalog/Ultra-Battery-1.html

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