Skin and rectal temperatures during ether and halothane anesthesia in infants and children

Abstract

Skin, rectal, and room temperatures and blood gases were monitored in 70 patients 5 mth to 6 yr old undergoing repair of harelip or cleft palate under ether or halothane anesthesia. During anesthesia, rectal temperatures rose as a function of time with both anesthetics, though with halothane there was an initial drop in temperature. Rectal temperatures rose more frequently, more rapidly, and to higher levels with ether than with halothane. Skin temperatures decreased progressively during both types of anesthesia, but the decreases were greater with ether than with halothane. The differences between rectal and peripheral skin temperatures (internal gradient) increased at both 60 minutes and 120 minutes with both ether and halothane, more so with ether. A decrease of PaCO2 together with a moderate decrease of base excess was noted with ether but not with halothane. CO2 accumulation is, therefore, not an etiologic factor in elevation of body temperature during ether or halothane anesthesia in children.