Surgical product how-tos

How to use the two part BARRIER® EasyWarm®

By: Mölnlycke Health Care, February 11 2013Posted in: Surgical product how-tos

Learn how to use the two-part BARRIER EasyWarm active self-warming blanket for easy patient warming before, during and after surgery.

The new BARRIER EasyWarm has been launched in a few selected markets as a limited edition. Its benefits include greater flexibility of use, allowing the user to divide the product into two parts and reassemble the parts into one. The new version of the blanket is also bigger overall.

You can also download a product sheet with instructions for use (pdf).

Instructions for use

	1. Tear package open using precut tab located in top left corner. Remove the blanket from the outer protective package to expose BARRIER EasyWarm to air.
	2. Open and unfold BARRIER EasyWarm completely and do not fold it over itself. Blanket will self-warm to an average of 40°C in 30 minutes once exposed to oxygen in air, and keep it’s temperature up to 10 hours.
	3. Place BARRIER EasyWarm with warming pads facing up with the white side of the blanket towards patient.
	4. During the pre- and post operative period, and during surgical interventions on hand, arms and head, place BARRIER EasyWarm over the entire body.
	5. For surgical intervention in the lower abdominal area and lower extremities split BARRIER EasyWarm and place the upper part over extremities and chest.
	6. For surgical interventions above the genital area split BARRIER EasyWarm and place the lower part over the legs and hip.
	7. For surgical interventions in the abdominal area split BARRIER EasyWarm and place the upper part over extremities and chests and place the lower part over the legs and hip.
	8. The blanket’s upper and lower part can easily be detached and re-attached via the velcro. The lower part can be splitted into additionally two parts by cutting it at indicated line. This enables the blanket to suit different surgical patient positions.

General information

• Do not fold the blanket over itself.

• Remove from patient before X-ray or MRI since the warming pads are not translucent.

• Warming pads should be placed facing up.

• It is recommended to avoid direct skin contact in areas with bruising, swelling and frostbite. In patients with impaired sensibility, reactivity or communication, skin response should be monitored regularly in accordance with hospital protocol.

• After use, dispose the blanket with regular waste. Possible to incinerate.

• To be handled under supervision of healthcare provider.

Precautions

• The blanket is an active therapeutical device and must be handled according to instructions in order to avoid possible thermal injuries.

• Avoid blanket use in hyperbaric medicine.

• The blanket is not designed to be used in pediatric surgery.

Surgical patient positions

The BARRIER EasyWarm blanket is designed to be flexible and suited for many different types of surgical interventions. Please see below suggestions on how to place the blanket for some of the most common surgical patient positions.

Abdominal surgery	Laparoscopic surgery	Knee surgery
Shoulder surgery	Shoulder surgery	Spine surgery
Urology/gynaecology surgery	Urology/gynaecology surgery	Urology/gynaecology surgery
Hip surgery	Hip surgery	ENT surgery