• O Moerer, A Bräuer, W Weyland, and U Braun.
• Zentrum Anaesthesiologie, Rettungs- und Intensivmedizin der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. omoerer@gwdg.de
• Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2004 Mar 1;39(3):138-46.

QuestionInadequately warmed blood or infusions contribute to the development of perioperative hypothermia. Therefore we analysed the efficiency of several infusion warmers.MethodTested infusion warmers: Model Autoline (Barkey) 500OR/241(Arizant), BW 385L(Biotest), H250/D50 und D60 (Level-1), H500/D300 (Level-1), Warmflo FW537-I/HEC40 (Tyco). Different solutions (saline, colloid solution and packed red blood cells PRBC) were tested varying the infusion flow, temperature of the solution and infusion pressure. Effective warming was defined as an infusion temperature > or = 33 degrees C. Haemolysis was measured by the increase of free plasma haemoglobin.ResultsThe infusion warmers were effective within the following flow ranges: Low flow rate (< 250 ml/h): Autoline, 500OR/241 and H250/D60. Medium flow rate (250-2500 ml/h): Autoline, 500OR/241, BW385L (> 480 ml/h), H250/D 60 und D50 (> or = 1300 ml/h), FW537-I/HEC40 (> 950 ml/h. High flow rate (2500-10,000 ml/h): BW385L (up to 5000 ml/h), H250/D50, H250/D60, H500/D300 and FW537-I/HEC 40(R). Highest flow rates (> 10,000 ml/h): H250/D60, H500/D300 and FW537-I HEC40. Colloidal solutions were warmed nearly as good as saline, cooled PRBC had a smaller range of effective warming. There was no relevant haemolysis in any of the tested systems (plasma free haemoglobin raise < 24 mg/dl in all systems).ConclusionThe warming capacity of the system and the length of the uninsulated infusion system determine the efficiency of an infusion warmer. The range of effective warming of an infusion warmer should be known for proper application.

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