• Naomi Ohtsuka, Michiaki Yamakage, Xiangdong Chen, Yasuhiro Kamada, and Akiyoshi Namiki.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South 1, West 16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8543, Japan.
• J Anesth. 2002 Jan 1;16(2):145-9.

PurposeThis study was conducted to compare the fluid warming capabilities at different flow rates in four different warming systems.MethodsThe intravenous (i.v.) fluid warmers used in this study were a water-bath warmer, a forced-air warmer, a dry-heat plate warmer, and an i.v. fluid tube warmer. Ringer's solution at room temperature or at ice-cold temperature (120-3000 ml.h(-1)) was used as an i.v. fluid, and the i.v. fluid temperatures were measured with thermocouples at the end of a 1-m tube connected to the warmer.ResultsThe temperature of the i.v. fluid delivered by the water bath and the forced-air warming system increased as the flow rate increased up to 1200 ml.h(-1) but decreased with further increase of the flow rate. The temperature of the i.v. fluid delivered by the dry-heat plate warmer significantly increased as the flow rate increased within the range studied. The delivered temperature did not depend on the flow rate within the range studied when the i.v. fluid tube warmer was used.ConclusionIt is important to choose a warmer according to its characteristics as well as its performance.

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