FDA releases guidance to help hospitals conserve pneumatic tourniquet cuffs

As urged by the AHA and its professional membership group the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management, the Food and Drug Administration yesterday released guidance to help hospitals and other health care providers conserve pneumatic tourniquet cuffs after a recent recall led to local supply shortages. The devices are mainly used in elective limb surgeries and emergency and trauma settings. The conservation strategies include using alternative devices and reusing existing devices after following appropriate sterilization/disinfection procedures.