Frequently Asked Questions - Gaymar Medi-Therm III Manuel D'utilisation

Medi-Therm III
®

10.3 Frequently Asked Questions

10.3.1 Why does the WATER temperature
display continually fluctuate during
maintenance and warming in AUTO mode?
The machine is designed to use the water to warm or
to cool the patient based on the SET POINT. When the
PATIENT temperature is higher than the SET POINT (see
 in FIGURE 12 below), the machine will automatically
lower the WATER temperature to bring the PATIENT
temperature back to the SET POINT. In the same manner,
when the PATIENT temperature is lower than the SET
POINT (see  in FIGURE 12 below), the machine
will automatically warm the water to increase the
temperature of the patient.

Figure 12—Water Temperature Fluctuation
Graph
10.3.2 What should the WATER temperature
be when the PATIENT temperature reaches
the SET POINT?
There is no set WATER temperature when the PATIENT
temperature is at the SET POINT. It is normal for the
WATER temperature to fluctuate significantly above and
below the PATIENT temperature as the machine responds
continuously to the PATIENT temperature variations. The
machine will use its designed range of water temperature
to maintain the PATIENT temperature at the SET POINT.
10.3.3 Why is my patient warming
too quickly or too slowly in the AUTO
GRADUAL or AUTO MODERATE modes?
The machine is designed to control the PATIENT
temperature to ± 1.0ºC of the warming rate throughout

Alerts / Troubleshooting / FAQ's
the therapy. It will automatically increase the PATIENT
temperature at a specific rate of 0.33ºC/Hour in
MODERATE or 0.17ºC/Hour in GRADUAL. Deviations from
this could be caused by the following conditions:
•Patient‑specific factors, including fever, shivering,
seizures, etc.
•Interruption of the therapy , e.g. adjusting the SET
POINT during therapy or switching to other modes
during therapy. When the therapy is interrupted, the
machine will reset the therapy, using the current
PATIENT temperature, and this may impact the
duration of the therapy depending on when in
the hourly cycle the mode is interrupted. To avoid
changes in the duration of the therapy, DO NOT
change the MODE or the SET POINT until the therapy
is completed.
10.3.4 What should I be concerned about
if the WATER temperature drops more
than 10ºC (18ºF) below the PATIENT
temperature and SET POINT for more than
30 minutes during maintenance or warming?
A sustained drop in WATER temperature indicates that
the machine is working hard to maintain the PATIENT
temperature at the SET POINT. There are a number of
reasons why this can occur, some of which may have
major clinical implications. Conditions such as shivering,
fever and seizures may generate a large amount of heat
and the machine will lower the WATER temperature in
an attempt to maintain the PATIENT temperature at the
SET POINT. Increased heat production may not manifest
as a PATIENT temperature increase if the machine can
overcome the heat burden by lowering the WATER
temperature.
10.3.5 Can I defibrillate my patient during
temperature therapy?
YES. If defibrillation is required during temperature
therapy, it is not necessary to remove the Rapr•Round
Vest. Simply loosen the Velcro-like closure and open
the vest to expose the chest. Defibrillation cannot be
performed through the wrap. In 1977, the Emergency
Care Research Institute published data on the safety
of defibrillating patients while those patients are being
treated with water‑filled temperature management
devices*. In the unlikely event there is condensation
accumulation on the patient's chest from the hyper/
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