title: Evaluation of a new high-efficiency blood warmer for children.
abstract: Because currently available blood warmers are inadequate for infants and children requiring massive transfusion, the performance of a new high-efficiency pediatric blood warmer (System 250TM, LEVEL 1 Technologies Inc., Marshfield, Massachusetts) was evaluated and compared with a commonly used conventional blood warmer (Model DW1000A, American Pharmaseal, Valencia, California). Cold (5-6 degrees C), diluted red blood cells (RBC) (Hct = 30%) were infused through the warmers over a series of flow rates, and the resulting temperatures of the infusate were measured. The flow rates of diluted packed RBC were also measured over a series of infusion pressures. At a flow rate of 225 ml/min, the output temperature of the System 250TM was 33.6 degrees C compared with 24.6 degrees C (P less than 0.05) for the conventional warmer. Above a flow rate of 250 ml/min, however, the water bath of the System 250TM cooled significantly, resulting in a deterioration of performance and an output temperature of only 24.2 degrees C at a flow rate of 400 ml/min. With a 16-G catheter attached, the flow rate at a pressure of 300 mmHg was 223 ml/min through the System 250TM compared with 160 ml/min (P less than 0.05) for the conventional warmer. The System 250TM produced higher output temperatures and a lower resistance to flow compared with the conventional warmer, but flow rates of cold blood through the System 250TM should be restricted to 250 ml/min or less to ensure adequate warming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Riley Children's Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5200.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Presson
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Haselby
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bezruczko
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn