G K Chaseling1, Y Molgat-Seon2, T Daboval3,4,5, S Chou3,5,6, O Jay1,3,7. 1. Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 2. Health and Integrative Physiology Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 3. Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 4. Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 5. Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 6. Division of General Surgery, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 7. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to assess (i) the agreement between servo-control temperature (Tfeedback) and rectal temperature (Tre) and (ii) the distribution of regional skin temperatures (Tsk) of neonates nursed under a radiant warmer (RW) in a neonatal intensive care unit. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study of 13 neonates nursed under a RW device set to servo-control mode (Tfeedback set-point: 36.5 °C) who were monitored for Tfeedback, Tre and Tsk at six sites for a period of 105 min. RESULTS: Mean bias for Tfeedback relative to Tre was +0.01 °C, but 95% limits of agreement were ±0.99 °C, and only 66% of Tfeedback values were within the acceptable limits determined a priori (±0.5 °C). Tfeedback was maintained within a range of 1.4 °C (35.9 to 37.3 °C), whereas the range observed for regional skin temperatures spanned from 9.5 °C (27.3 to 36.8 °C; foot) to 4.8 °C (33.1 to 37.9 °C; chest). CONCLUSION: Although Tfeedback is maintained within narrow limits, the level of agreement with Tre is poor. In addition, large fluctuations in regional skin temperatures occur with a consistent caudal-to-rostral temperature gradient, irrespective of Tfeedback.
OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to assess (i) the agreement between servo-control temperature (Tfeedback) and rectal temperature (Tre) and (ii) the distribution of regional skin temperatures (Tsk) of neonates nursed under a radiant warmer (RW) in a neonatal intensive care unit. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study of 13 neonates nursed under a RW device set to servo-control mode (Tfeedback set-point: 36.5 °C) who were monitored for Tfeedback, Tre and Tsk at six sites for a period of 105 min. RESULTS: Mean bias for Tfeedback relative to Tre was +0.01 °C, but 95% limits of agreement were ±0.99 °C, and only 66% of Tfeedback values were within the acceptable limits determined a priori (±0.5 °C). Tfeedback was maintained within a range of 1.4 °C (35.9 to 37.3 °C), whereas the range observed for regional skin temperatures spanned from 9.5 °C (27.3 to 36.8 °C; foot) to 4.8 °C (33.1 to 37.9 °C; chest). CONCLUSION: Although Tfeedback is maintained within narrow limits, the level of agreement with Tre is poor. In addition, large fluctuations in regional skin temperatures occur with a consistent caudal-to-rostral temperature gradient, irrespective of Tfeedback.
Authors: John L Moran; John Victor Peter; Patricia J Solomon; Bernadette Grealy; Tania Smith; Wendy Ashforth; Megan Wake; Sandra L Peake; Aaron R Peisach Journal: Crit Care Med Date: 2007-01 Impact factor: 7.598