The human body is an extremely complex machine that consists of small parts and procedures that must be in order and completed efficiently so that the body can stay healthy. To treat various diseases and to prevent others many medical devices are used by modern science. These devices help doctors and surgeons to work more efficiently and with greater attention to detail. Such a medical device that is used to prevent complications is a fluid warming system.
What is a fluid warming system?
Ranger blood and fluid warmer
A fluid warming system is a medical device that helps to warm fluids including crystalloid, colloid, or blood products before administering to body temperature levels. The purpose of doing so is to prevent hypothermia which is the sudden drop in the patient’s body temperature. It is used for patients who are surgical or physically traumatized.
Hypothermia can be dangerous for a patient as it can cause unconsciousness and also breathing problems. You also might not be able to detect the patient’s breathing or pulse. It can cause complications that can be extremely dangerous to a patient’s life. Since it is highly important to maintain normothermia (the normal core body temperature) in surgical and physically traumatized patients to avoid severe complications, the importance of fluid warming systems cannot be denied.
How a Ranger fluid warming system is used?
Ranger fluid warming system is an advanced warming technology that is designed to warm blood and other fluids. This device maintains fluid output temperatures which can be used for the patients and consequently help in the prevention of hypothermia and its harmful effects.
3M™ Ranger™ Blood/Fluid Warming System uses smart heat technology to warm blood and other fluids. This fluid warming system consists of the following components
- Inlet line
- The blue inlet pinch clamp
- Fluid warming cassette
- Bubble trap
- Roller clamp
- Needleless injection port
- Luer connection
- White outlet pinch clamps
- Patient connector
Procedure
The procedure for using a Ranger fluid warming system is as follows
- First of all, adjust the fluid warming unit’s height to the patient level or lower to prevent the risk of air embolism.
- After securely mounting the fluid warming unit, you should plug the power cord into a grounded outlet.
- After this, open the warming set pouch where it is indicated with the help of arrows.
- Make sure that all luer connections are securely tightened prior to the primary set to prevent the risk of leaking and loss of therapy.
- Before priming, slide the fluid warming cassette into the slot in the warming unit and connect the short inlet line to the fluid source.
- Prime all tubing to purge air from the line and invert the bubble trap while priming and fill
- Place the bubble trap right side up into the holder on the warming unit and continue to prime the patient line
- Close all the clamps after priming the entire line
- Now turn the warming unit on
- At this stage, the unit reaches its normal operating set point of forty-one degrees Celcius in less than two minutes
- The LED display is present on the front of the unit shows the temperature of the warming unit
- The temperature of warmed fluids and blood is verified with the help of sensors that check heating plates four times per second.
- To reduce the risk of leaking and loss of therapy, make sure not to exceed the pressure above 300 mmHg. Also, ensure that inline hand pressure pumps and other pumps do not exceed 300 mmHg pressure.
- Do not remove the warming set from the warming unit while in use.
- Monitor the fluid lines to make sure that these are air-free as the bubble trap does not eliminate air automatically.
- Close the clamp between the injection port and the patient connection. Invert the bubble trap.
- Insert a syringe in the injection port and aspirate the air until the bubble trap and IV line are free of air.
- Place the bubble trap right side up in the holder. Open the clamp and continue the infusion.
- While removing the disposable set from the warming unit you will need to close the inlet clamp proximal to the fluid warming cassette
- Open the outlet clamp distal to the cassette and let the fluid flow into the patient for about two or three seconds and close the outlet clamp.
- Remove the fluid warming cassette from the warming unit and discard it as per the institutional protocol.
- All medical devices include detailed instructions for use and safety information. These details and safety instructions should be read thoroughly and must be followed to ensure the proper functioning of the device.
Precautions
Some precautions must be taken into consideration. These precautions include
- If air bubbles are present in the fluid line, never infuse fluids as it can cause an air embolism
- Keep the unit clean by wiping it over with a slightly damp cloth.
Ranger high-flow disposable set
Pros of Ranger fluid warming system
- Ranger fluid warming systems come in a compact and space-saving design
- It contains an easy-to-read LED display for reading temperature
- It includes over and under-temperature alarms
- It includes an integrated handle for easy transport
- It includes highly conductive aluminum plates for maximum heat transfer
- It includes in-expensive and simple-to-use disposable warming sets
- It has a convenient over-temperature test function
- It includes a built-in IV pole clamp for a secure hold.
- It needs simple maintenance
Conclusion
Fluid warming systems are critical to ensure the safety of the patients. These fluid-warming systems make sure that the blood or other IV fluids that are given to the patients during or after surgery are warm enough according to the body temperature to prevent hypothermia. Hypothermia can cause drastic results including heart failure as well as a failure of the respiratory system. It can also cause the death of the patient. Therefore, it is highly significant to warm blood and other fluids during and after surgery. Having a fluid warming system is a necessity in medical settings as it can help in better treatment and prevention of severe complications.
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
