Many inpatients in UK hospitals require intravenous (IV) fluids to be administered to replace much needed water, salt, sugar, and electrolytes in their bodies. The vast majority of these patients have had surgery or require intensive care.
Careful decisions must be taken regarding the optimal amount of IV fluids to be administered, and the rate at which these should be given.
However, there is also another important factor to consider regarding the infusion of IV fluids – the optimum temperature of the fluids themselves.
IV fluid warming improves patient comfort
When IV fluids are administered to patients at room temperature, there are common side effects of chills, shivering and general discomfort.
As many of these patients will be undergoing surgery or are in intensive care following surgery, they are likely to already be experiencing a significant amount of stress. It is therefore vital that their comfort is prioritised.
Research has shown that patients who receive warmed IV fluids have a body temperature half a degree higher than patients who receive room temperature IV fluids. This rise in body temperature is proven to occur not only directly after the fluids are administered, but 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes afterwards, and also following surgery. This research also showed a reduction in shivering and an increase in patient comfort.
How IV fluids are warmed
IV fluids should be warmed prior to infusion using a specialist fluid warming cabinet. It’s important for all operating theatres and intensive care units to have a fluid warming cabinet as part of their equipment.
Fluid warming cabinets come in a range of sizes and with various features. When selecting the best option for your needs, it’s important to choose a model that has:
- Automatic safety protection
- Microprocessor control
- Fast recovery after opening and closing the door
- A temperature range from ambient to 60˚C
Where to buy fluid warming cabinets
When choosing fluid warming cabinets for your hospital, it’s vital that you go to a trusted and reputable supplier.
The fluid warming cabinets provided by QED Scientific include all the features listed above and more.
QED Scientific are award winning market leaders, providing a range of theatre equipment including fluid warming cabinets in 15 sizes.
Holding bottles from 1 – 3 litres, as well as 500ml – 3 litres of fluid in bags, their fluid warming cabinet capacities range from:
- 9-240 one litre bottles on heavy duty wire shelves
- 2-60 three litre bags in wire baskets
Get in touch with their knowledgeable team today to discuss your needs.
