Tourniquet Cuff Technology: What is the purpose of a tourniquet cuff? The purpose of a tourniquet cuff is to safely stop or restrict arterial blood flow into a portion of an extremity by applying a uniform circumferential pressure around the extremity at a desired location. Pneumatic tourniquet cuffs In general, a pneumatic tourniquet cuff is [...]
Are you selecting a tourniquet cuff that meets all FDA requirements as a Class I medical device? In the United States, pneumatic tourniquet cuffs are regulated as Class I medical device by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Risks of injuries to patients and legal liability for users arise from use of a pneumatic tourniquet [...]
Proper Tourniquet Cuff Application: After the patient is brought into the OR, apply the tourniquet cuff at the desired location on the limb, pressurized within the appropriate pressure range for an appropriate period of time. The following sections provide a general sequence of events for preparation, cuff application and setting up the tourniquet instrument (Note: [...]
Patient Assessment The perioperative staff should assess the patient preoperatively for potential contraindications and risks [1]. The final decision on whether or not to use a tourniquet rests with the attending physician. Potential contraindications for tourniquet use Perioperative staff should screen the patient preoperatively for the following potential contraindications [1]: Venous thromboembolism, Impaired circulation or [...]
Alopecia (hair loss) is a common consequence of cancer treatment known to have a profound impact on quality of life. Tourniquet technologies have been investigated from the mid-1960s to early 1980s as a strategy for preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) but their ambiguous results precluded incorporation into any standard of treatment [1]. Fundamental advances inherent in [...]
Pediatric patients need pediatric tourniquets because infants and children have smaller limb circumferences and limb lengths, different mass of muscle and other soft tissues, and different physiological characteristics such as blood pressures and heart rate. These characteristics can vary greatly within the pediatric population from neonatal to adolescent patients. To ensure safe and effective tourniquet [...]
What is Intravenous Regional Anesthesia? Intravenous regional anesthesia is a tourniquet-related alternative to general anesthesia for limb surgeries. It is inexpensive and widely used for both adults and pediatric patients, with the frequency varying by the type of surgery and practice patterns [1]. In IVRA, a dual-bladder cuff or two single-bladder cuffs are applied proximal [...]
For the best patient outcome, it is important that all equipment is assembled, calibrated, and tested prior to its use. The following sections highlights some key considerations during equipment assembling, calibration and testing. Assembling equipment and supplies Efficiency in the operating room demands that all of the necessary equipment and supplies be assembled before the [...]
Best Tourniquet Practices There are many types of tourniquet cuffs, instruments, and limb protection sleeves available for the clinicians. Due to common misconceptions and misinformation, it may be a challenge to select and use the most appropriate tourniquet technology for your patients. Here is our list of top 10 best tourniquet practices you need [...]