Comparison of two in-line blood warmers.

We compared a new blood warmer, the Gorman-Rupp DW-1000A Blood Fluid Warmer, with the blood warmer currently being used at our hospital (the Hemokinetitherm). Using dated stored whole blood, we compared the heating capacities of the two blood warmers at varying flow rates. We found that the Gorman-Rupp (DW-1000A) was capable of faster infusion rates than the Hemokinetitherm and could consistently heat the blood to a higher temperature. Maximum flow rates of the Hemokinetitherm using a pressure bag at 79.8 kPa (600 mm Hg) was 125 ml/min compared to a maximum infusion rate of 166 ml/min with the DW-1000A. The extent of blood warming at the maximum infusion rate was from 10.6 degrees C to 28.5 degrees C for Hemokinetitherm, compared with 10.6 degrees C to 32.5 degrees C for the DW-1000A. We conclude that the DW-1000A is superior to the blood warmer we have been currently using both heating capabilities and maximum possible infusion rate.