Frequently Asked Questions

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• When should the patient be covered with Thermawrap®?

  Patients begin losing body heat pre-operatively, therefore, Thermawrap^® is most effective when placed before anaesthesia induction or preferably in the hospital ward.

  Thermal Draping

• Can Thermawrap® be used during surgery?

  Yes.  Thermawrap^® is non-conductive and radiolucent making it safe for use with all electro-surgery/diathermy and all radiographic techniques.

  Thermal Draping

• Can Thermawrap® be used in conjunction with an active warming system?

  Yes.  Thermawrap^® should be placed over the active warming blanket where it will radiate convective heat loss back to the patient. 

  Thermal Draping

• Which side goes toward the patient?

  The fleece side is towards the patient as it is more comfortable for the patient and will drape better.  

  Thermal Draping

• Are some body areas more important to cover than others?

  Some parts of the body lose a disproportionate amount of heat.  The head is more vascular and loses more heat than the arm.  Body extremities, such as arms and legs, are less vascular than the head but could still be vasoconstricted.  This has implications for pulse oximetry and vascular access.  For these areas head covers, mitts and boots are available.

  Thermal Draping

• How can I verify that Thermawrap® is working?

  Use intermittent tympanic temperature measurements along with noting the absence of shivering and vasoconstriction.

  Thermal Draping

• Which patients should Thermawrap® be used on?

  Thermawrap^® is indicated for all patients susceptible to mild hypothermia.  As Thermawrap^® is inexpensive and requires no training it can be used on all patients. 

  Thermal Draping

• What makes AMSORB® PLUS heat up? Does this mean the granules are not working?

  The reaction whereby CO₂ is absorbed is exothermic (heat is spontaneously generated from the chemical reaction). The amount of heat depends on rate of respiration, fresh gas flow rate and the shape and volume of the absorber canister.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• What is the cause of water condensation in the breathing circuit?

  This may originate from moisture in the patient’s breath and from water produced by the exothermic reaction of absorption of CO₂. It may evaporate as the canister heats up and may condense on cooler parts of the apparatus.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• Should water be added to AMSORB® PLUS?

  This should NEVER be done.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• Sometimes exhaustion is indicated by physiological signs or capnometry before the colour changes - why is this?

  It may be that the apparatus is not working properly or is incorrectly assembled. There may be channeling of gases through the middle of the absorber canister. Condensed water may be interfering with the composition of sampled gases. Absorbent granules may have absorbed water which is preventing CO₂ absorption.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• Why does utilisation time vary?

  Utilisation time is influenced by the following factors:

  Fresh gas flow rate; metabolic CO₂ production; tidal volume; respiratory rate

  Shape and volume of the absorber canister and design of breathing circuit

  Humidification management in the breathing circuit.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• When to cease using AMSORB® PLUS?

  This is determined by capnometry. The absorbent is changed when FiCO₂ has exceeded 0.5% volume or 5mmHg. CO₂ breakthrough to 0.5% volume or 5mmHg may be associated with colouration of 50% of the total height of the absorber canister.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• Does AMSORB® PLUS adsorb anaesthetic vapour?

  Completely desiccated AMSORB® PLUS has least ability to adsorb anaesthetic vapour when compared to other absorbents (Knolle, 2002). Note that desiccated AMSORB® PLUS is incapable of absorbing CO₂ and therefore will not be in clinical use.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• What anaesthetic agents can be used with AMSORB® PLUS?

  AMSORB® PLUS can be used safely with anaesthetic agents halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, desflurane and sevoflurane. No fresh gas flow restrictions apply.

  AMSORB® PLUS

• What are the advantages of using AMSORB® PLUS over other available absorbents?

  Does not generate Carbon Monoxide under any clinical conditions; does not generate Compound A or any like compounds when used with sevoflurane; does not generate Formaldehyde or Methanol when used with sevoflurane.

  Irreversible colour change, when fully exhausted; optimum CO₂ absorption; low resistance to gas flow; low dust levels with consistent granule size.

  Non-corrosive to skin.

  AMSORB® PLUS