OBJECTIVE: Rapid and accurate core temperature measurement is vitally important in trauma patients, especially in those with accidental hypothermia. We tested a new aural thermometer to measure "tympanic" temperatures and assessed its accuracy during normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Tympanic, esophageal, and blood temperatures were compared in 10 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. In addition, the stability and reaction time of the tympanic thermometer was evaluated in 5 volunteers in a cold room, with and without facial fanning. RESULTS: We observed a good linear correlation between tympanic and esophageal (r = 0.96) and blood (r = 0.81) temperature measurements during normothermia and hypothermia. There was no evidence of iatrogenic ear lesions in any of the patients. In the cold-room tests, stability was excellent and the time for adjustment of tympanic temperature measurement was about 2 min (with and without facial fanning). CONCLUSION: The new tympanic thermoprobe is a simple, fast, and reliable device for measuring core temperature. The device was designed particularly for, and may be useful for, patients suffering from accidental hypothermia.
OBJECTIVE: Rapid and accurate core temperature measurement is vitally important in traumapatients, especially in those with accidental hypothermia. We tested a new aural thermometer to measure "tympanic" temperatures and assessed its accuracy during normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Tympanic, esophageal, and blood temperatures were compared in 10 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. In addition, the stability and reaction time of the tympanic thermometer was evaluated in 5 volunteers in a cold room, with and without facial fanning. RESULTS: We observed a good linear correlation between tympanic and esophageal (r = 0.96) and blood (r = 0.81) temperature measurements during normothermia and hypothermia. There was no evidence of iatrogenic ear lesions in any of the patients. In the cold-room tests, stability was excellent and the time for adjustment of tympanic temperature measurement was about 2 min (with and without facial fanning). CONCLUSION: The new tympanic thermoprobe is a simple, fast, and reliable device for measuring core temperature. The device was designed particularly for, and may be useful for, patients suffering from accidental hypothermia.
Authors: Peter Paal; Les Gordon; Giacomo Strapazzon; Monika Brodmann Maeder; Gabriel Putzer; Beat Walpoth; Michael Wanscher; Doug Brown; Michael Holzer; Gregor Broessner; Hermann Brugger Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2016-09-15 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Helge Brändström; Göran Johansson; Gordon G Giesbrecht; Karl-Axel Ängquist; Michael F Haney Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2014-01-27 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Giacomo Strapazzon; Emily Procter; Gabriel Putzer; Giovanni Avancini; Tomas Dal Cappello; Norbert Überbacher; Georg Hofer; Bernhard Rainer; Georg Rammlmair; Hermann Brugger Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2015-11-05 Impact factor: 2.953