Constant temperature monitoring: A study of temperature patterns in the postanesthesia care unit

Comparison of Temperature Measurement Devices in Post Anesthesia Patients

“…Those at extremes of ages-the very young and the very old-are more affected by heat loss and more likely to develop hypothermia. 4,8,9,17 In our study, there was no statistical difference between the temperature sitesaxillary or oral; therefore, these measurements were analyzed as electronic or chemical. This finding is consistent with Erickson et al 28 Both the 3M Tempa-DotÔ Single-Use chemical clinical thermometer and the Alaris TURBO) TEMPÔ thermometer had moderately strong positive correlations with the OR core temperature, with an approximately 0.5 F degree difference between each device and the core temperature, and the correlation matrices indicate the same relationship (Fig 1).…”

“…3 Several research studies have demonstrated that females, the very young, and the very old are more vulnerable to developing hypothermia. 4,8,9,17 Others have indicated that the types and methods of anesthesia contribute to the incidence of hypothermia. 7,9,10,[18][19][20] The type and length of surgery, and the use of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative warming have also been shown to affect the development and degree of hypothermia in postsurgical patients.…”

“…7,9,10,[18][19][20] The type and length of surgery, and the use of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative warming have also been shown to affect the development and degree of hypothermia in postsurgical patients. 8,18 For measurement accuracy in thermometry, devices must be calibrated and that calibration maintained. The user must be sure that the thermometer is giving an accurate reflection of the patient's true body temperature.…”

“…The user must be sure that the thermometer is giving an accurate reflection of the patient's true body temperature. Any deviation from the standard reference will result in erroneous temperatures, 8 which may be used to make critical clinical decisions. It is also imperative that whichever device is used, it is used correctly.…”

“…Decreased wound healing occurs as a result of immunological suppression and increased protein breakdown, and urinary nitrogen loss in hypothermia. 8,10 Hypothermia also results in altered drug metabolism, which can lengthen the duration of some anesthetic agents' sedative effects. 7,9 Hypothermia also has some indirect consequences, and the management of these consequences and complications of hypothermia can be costly to health care institutions.…”