Function and design
HICO-VARIOTHERM 550
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Side effects
There are no known side effects for the materials used in water
pad systems.
In use
, a temperature transfer by means of water pads may be
considered unsatisfactory if:
•
less than 20 % of the water pads surface comes into contact
with the patient
•
the contact pressure reduces the skin circulation. In this case
there is an additional risk of bedsore.
In warming applications
and the related targeted increasing of
the patient's temperature during long-term applications and too
high temperatures, there is always a risk of burning.
In cooling applications
and the related targeted lowering of the
patient's temperature (therapeutic hypothermia) there is a also
possibility of burn risk (freezer burn) in the same way as with
warming applications, and side effects may occur such as:
•
autonomous reactions (among others shivering),
•
electrolyte disturbance,
•
higher diuresis (diuresis fluctuations),
•
hyperglycaemia (glycaemic fluctuations),
•
higher blood loss (due to reduced blood-clotting factors),
•
change to the pharmacokinetics,
•
increased rate of wound infection (sepsis),
•
risk of decubitus
In addition, this can cause reversible dilated pupils; dilated fixed
pupils in an undercooled patient, therefore, must not be a sign of
a serious brain injury.
