Placement of an Esophageal Temperature Probe by Nurses

Abstract

Background Current guidelines support therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. An esophageal temperature probe (ETP) provides a core temperature assessment; however, accurate placement is necessary. Objectives To demonstrate accurate placement of an ETP and evaluate the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation with anatomic imaging. Methods Registered nurses (RNs) were educated using 3-dimensional, high-fidelity simulation with VH Dissector technology (Touch of Life Technologies, Aurora, Colorado) to demonstrate ETP placement. The RNs provided survey responses on the effectiveness of simulation before and after using the simulator. Results Thirty-two RNs participated and did not demonstrate difficulties with the skill; however, 53.1% required more than 1 attempt for accurate placement in the distal esophagus. Survey results found that participants had increased confidence and high satisfaction with simulation and 3-dimensional imaging (P < .001). Conclusions Literature is lacking to guide ETP placement. In this study, RNs overestimated the depth for ETP insertion. Accurate temperature readings are highly dependent on accurate anatomical location placement. Providing skill competency training that incorporated anatomical imaging technology enhanced RNs’ awareness for effective skill acquisition.

Novel Measurement Approaches Are Needed In The Pre-Hospital Setting To Prevent Accidental Hypothermia.

“…Securement of the airway is crucial if the patient has an impaired level of consciousness, and can be achieved by pre-hospital emergency clinicians, or in the austere or combat setting by appropriately trained clinicians (Brugger et al 2013). Providing esophageal temperature probe skill competency training to emergency clinicians via high fidelity simulation has shown promise (Makic, Lovett & Azam 2012) and may facilitate uptake in clinical practice.…”

Zero-Heat-Flux and Esophageal Temperature Monitoring in Orthopedic Surgery: An Observational Study

“…15,18 Esophageal temperature monitoring is more commonly utilized and provides a reliable but invasive mode of core temperature measurement 1,26 closely correlated to PA temperature in anaesthetized patients. 27 This prospective, observational study utilized esophageal temperature as an adequate comparison to determine accuracy with the Bair Hugger™ ZHF device, for patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. Specifically, we aimed to establish measurement accuracy as the primary outcome.…”