Category
Perioperative Care
Typical Use
Warm transfused blood to body temperature.
Description
Inline or cabinet blood warmers heat packed red blood cells and other blood products to near body temperature during rapid or massive transfusion to prevent hypothermia and associated coagulopathy. Blood warming devices are designed to maintain product integrity while delivering warmed blood safely, and protocols specify maximum allowable temperatures and flow rates to avoid hemolysis. Use of blood warmers is critical in trauma, obstetric hemorrhage, and major surgery where large volume transfusion is anticipated, and staff must be trained in device operation and monitoring. Documentation of warming, compatibility checks, and adherence to transfusion safety practices are essential to patient safety.