title: Methods used in veterinary practice to maintain the temperature of intravenous fluids.
abstract: To determine the methods used in veterinary practice to maintain the temperature of intravenous fluids, and the users' impression of their efficacy, data were collected from a survey of 150 veterinary practices. Of the 99 per cent of the practices that warmed intravenous fluids, the use of a heat retention bag cover was most popular and was considered most effective. In a laboratory experiment, four methods of maintaining the temperature of intravenous fluids were compared. The results showed that there was a significant loss of heat through the giving set. A heat retention cover was an effective device for maintaining the temperature of the prewarmed fluid in its bag. The use of ;hot hands' (a sealed surgical glove containing warmed water) was most effective in reducing heat loss from the delivered fluid, and was aided by prewarming the giving set.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dix
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods