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Methods used in veterinary practice to maintain the temperature of intravenous fluids

¹ Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU

Correspondence: Correspondence to Professor Holt

To determine the methods used in veterinary practice to maintain the temperature of intravenous fluids, and the users' impression of their efficacy, data were collected from a survey of 150 veterinary practices. Of the 99 per cent of the practices that warmed intravenous fluids, the use of a heat retention bag cover was most popular and was considered most effective. In a laboratory experiment, four methods of maintaining the temperature of intravenous fluids were compared. The results showed that there was a significant loss of heat through the giving set. A heat retention cover was an effective device for maintaining the temperature of the prewarmed fluid in its bag. The use of `hot hands' (a sealed surgical glove containing warmed water) was most effective in reducing heat loss from the delivered fluid, and was aided by prewarming the giving set.