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What determines the efficacy of forced-air warming systems? A manikin evaluation with upper body blankets
- Source :
- Anesthesia and analgesia. 108(1)
- Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Forced-air warming has gained acceptance as an effective means to prevent perioperative hypothermia. However, little is known about the influence of air flow and air temperature at the nozzle and the influence of heat distribution in the blankets on the efficacy of these systems. METHODS: We conducted a manikin study with heat flux transducers using five forced-air warming systems to determine the factors that are responsible for heat transfer from the blanket to the manikin. RESULTS: There was no relation between air temperature at the nozzle of the power unit and the resulting heat transfer. There was also no relation between the air flow at the nozzle of the power unit and the resulting heat transfer. However, all blankets performed best at high air flows above 19 L/s. The heat exchange coefficient, the mean temperature gradient between the blanket and the manikin correlated positively with the resulting heat transfer and the difference between the minimal and maximal blanket temperature correlated negatively with the resulting heat transfer. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of forced-air warming systems is primarily determined by the blanket. Modern power units provide sufficient heat energy to maximize the ability of the blanket to warm the patient. Optimizing blanket design by optimizing the mean temperature gradient between the blanket and the manikin (or any other surface) with a very homogeneous temperature distribution in the blanket will enable the manufacturers to develop better forced-air warming systems.
- Subjects :
- Nuclear engineering
Nozzle
Airflow
Hypothermia
Blanket
Manikins
Heating
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
030202 anesthesiology
Heat exchanger
Medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Mean radiant temperature
Rewarming
Upper body
business.industry
Air
Temperature
Bedding and Linens
Equipment Design
Models, Theoretical
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Heat flux
Heat transfer
Thermodynamics
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15267598
- Volume :
- 108
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Anesthesia and analgesia
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....6e1376daba4db7333a09f4a06b7136cf