ZOLL Thermogard XP IVTM Physician Manual - Manual (Page 34)

ZOLL IVTM™ System Physicians' Manual
600248-001 Rev 3 33
Dual Temperature Probes
The IVTM System features dual temperature probes. One probe, the sensing probe,
is typically placed in the bladder and is used to control the IVTM System’s action. The
other probe, the backup probe, is typically placed in the rectum and acts as a fail-safe
mechanism. If the difference in reported temperatures between the two probes
exceeds 2ºC, an alarm is sounded to warn the operator. If this occurs, it is usually
due to one of these events:
• One of the probes has failed.
• One of the probes has become dislodged from the patient.
The use of two temperature probes is the preferred operating mode for the IVTM
System. It is permissible in the IVTM System to deselect the backup probe (for
details see the Operation Manual). In this mode, the user is expected to use a
backup temperature monitoring device that is part of the bedside monitoring setup.
When using a single probe, for patient safety, it is important to set the temperature
alarm limits of the backup temperature monitoring system as described in the
Operation Manual. Failure to do so exposes the patient to the risk of injury.
For example, consider a patient with a single, bladder temperature probe in place
and a core temperature that is stable at 36.5ºC. If the bladder catheter is slowly
dislodged, the temperature sensor will indicate a temperature that moves
gradually from the bladder temperature to the temperature of the bed (in this
example let us say 32ºC). The system would sense this as a drop in core
temperature and begin to heat the patient. If the alarm limit on the backup sensor
is properly set, the operator’s attention would be immediately drawn to the
dislodgement of the first probe as the patient’s core temperature rose.
Single Use/Service Life
All IVTM catheters, and the associated Start-Up Kit, are subject to cyclically loading
as a result of the peristaltic pump within the IVTM System. They may fail due to
fatigue, with the leaking of saline into the patient, if used beyond their service life.
Use of catheters and Start-Up Kit beyond the recommended service life is potentially
dangerous. IVTM catheters and Start-Up Kit are strictly intended for single use.
Check the Pinwheel
In an earlier section the importance of ensuring proper flow through the catheter was
stressed. The Start-Up Kit features a clear plastic pinwheel close to the patient
connections on the Start-Up Kit tubing set. This pinwheel provides a general and
immediate indicator of flow within the system. It is a sound general practice to
arrange the tubing set so that this simple visual indictor can be seen at the patient
bedside. This pinwheel is not a calibrated instrument, however, absence of
movement of the pinwheel indicates the need to check for compression of the tubing
set or kinking of the catheter.