Author(s)

Juan M. Zaballos, Lisette De la Cruz

Department of Anesthesiology, Policlínica Guipúzcoa, Grupo Quirón Salud, San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa), Spain.

Unintended peri-operative hypothermia is very common in surgical patients and is associated with adverse outcomes. Perioperative use of forced-air and intravenous fluid warmers is recommended for hypothermia prevention. This study evaluated the ease of use of Fluido^® Compact, a new fluid warming device, and its ability to help as part of the intraoperative patient temperature management. It was used in 36 patients undergoing scheduled surgery at risk of hypothermia under regional, general or combined anesthesia, of more than one hour duration and with a predicted intravenous fluid administration of at least 1000 ml. The fluid warmer is very easy to set up. The disposable cassette has a very low (3 ml) priming volume and it is easy to handle and to place inside the warming module. Once connected to the main power outlet, it is ready to deliver fluid at target temperature in just a few seconds. Control panel is intuitive, and the one button operation system makes it safe and convenient. The combination of peri-operative patient surface warming with Mistral^®-Air forced-air warming system and intravenous fluid warming with Fluido^® Compact, that allowed the administration of IV perfusions at body temperature at the rate needed thus avoiding heat loss, helps to maintain intraoperative core temperature between 36.4°C and 36.8°C. A group of patients undergo a variety of surgical procedures with neuraxial, general or combined epidural-general anesthesia.

Fluid Warming, Perioperative Normothermia, Anesthesia Equipment

Zaballos, J. and De la Cruz, L. (2017) Clinical Evaluation of Fluido Compact^®: A New Intravenous Fluid Warmer. Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 7, 98-108. doi: 10.4236/ojanes.2017.74010.