Perforation of the tympanic membrane, a complication of tympanic thermometry during anesthesia

Abstract

There has been a renewed interest in better and more effective methods of temperature monitoring during anesthesia since the advent of the syndrome known as malignant hyperpyrexia. Tympanic thermometry has been advocated as a practical method of monitoring temperature during anesthesia. Since 1969 there have been numerous articles attesting to the ease of insertion and placement, sensitivity and accuracy, and safety and comfort of the tympanic membrane sensors, without serious complications being reported. The authors have utilized tympanic thermometry in more than 100 cases. Two cases of perforation of the tympanic membrane following its use are described.