Anesth Pain Med.  2017 Jan;12(1):28-31. 10.17085/apm.2017.12.1.28.

Heating of infusion fluids through heated breathing circuits

• Kim MH
• Kim JH
• Hur DK
• Kim SB
• Cho YH
• Lim SH
• Lee JH
• Lee W
• Cho K

• KMID: 2369662
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2017.12.1.28

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hypothermia is a common physiological condition that occurs during surgical operations. The goal of this experiment is to measure the temperature of the fluids flowing through heated breathing circuits with respect to changes in infusion speed.
METHODS
The infusion pump was connected to the intravenous inlet of a heated breathing circuit with two 50 cm extension lines connected to the outlet. Fluids were injected through the heated breathing circuit at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 ml/h, with measurement of the fluid temperature immediately after transit (OP 20), 70 cm after transit (OP 70), and 120 cm after transit (OP 120).
RESULTS
The mean fluid temperatures at OP 20, OP 70, and OP 120 were 40.7 ± 4.8℃, 35.1 ± 3.22℃, and 31.7 ± 2.5℃, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The heated breathing circuit was effective to heat the fluid. After passing out the heated breathing circuit, the temperature of the fluid continuously reduced. A length of 70 cm can be used to efficiently supply heated fluid to the patient. From this experiment, it is expected that supplying heated fluid to a patient using the heated breathing circuit will help maintain the patient's body temperature.

Keyword

Anesthesia; Closed-circuit; Fluids; Temperature

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Bays
Body Temperature
Heating*
Hot Temperature*
Humans
Hypothermia
Infusion Pumps
Respiration*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Heated breathing circuits (Mega Acer Kit®, Ace Medical, Korea). I: inspiration, E: expiration, HC: heating coil, OP: outlet point, P: patient.

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  Fig. 2 Changes in fluid temperature according to the infusion rate. FT: fluid temperature, OP 20: the fluid temperature immediately after transit, OP 70: 70 cm after transit, OP 120: 120 cm after transit.

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  Fig. 3 Wall thickness of 50 cm extension lines (3-Way Extension Line, Sewoon Medical, Korea).

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