WarmTouch WT-5900 - Introduction; Overview; Intended Use; Manual Availability

Overview
Operator’s Manual 9
1 Introduction
Overview
This chapter provides an introduction to the WarmTouch™ Model WT-5900
patient warming system.
Intended Use
The WarmTouch™ Model WT-5900 patient warming system (warming unit and
blanket) is intended for prevention and treatment of hypothermia. For example,
with the surgical patient, the patient in the preoperative holding area, the
pregnant woman who shivers during epidural anesthesia due to hypothermia,
or any patient who is uncomfortable in the cold critical care environment.
Manual Availability
The most recent revision of this manual is available on the Internet at:
http://www.nellcor.com/serv/manuals.aspx
Background Information
There are numerous ways of warming your patient, from cotton blankets to
water mattresses. Research has shown that low temperatures surrounding the
patient are a major factor contributing to hypothermia.
1
,
2
The warming system
covers the patient with warm air and actively transfers heat across the skin. The
result is to achieve normothermia.
1
Morris RH, Wilkey BR. “The Effects of the Ambient Temperature on Patient Temperature
During Surgery Not Involving Body Cavities.” Anesthesiology 32:102
-107, 1970.
2
Morris RH. “Influence of Ambient Temperature on Patient Temperature During
Intra
-abdominal Surgery.” Annals of Surgery 173:230-233, 1971.