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 composed of an [...]
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 cuff not meeting the FDA requirements. Therefore, it is important to only use pneumatic tourniquet cuffs that [...]
Applying the Tourniquet After the patient is brought into the OR, apply the tourniquet 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: This sequence [...]
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 are different from adult patients in that they 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 [...]
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 [...]
Further reading:Preoperative patient assessment2015 AORN guideline Further reading:Tourniquet cuff technologyTourniquet cuff selectionFDA requirements for pneumatic tourniquets in the United States Further reading:Tourniquet cuff technologyMaintenance, cleaning, and reprocessing Further reading:Tourniquet cuff technologyMaintenance, cleaning, and reprocessing Further reading:Tourniquet cuff technologyTourniquet cuff application Further reading:Tourniquet cuff technology Further reading:Limb Occlusion Pressure (LOP)Tourniquet instrument technology Further reading:Safety considerations during [...]