Deep body thermometry during general anesthesia

Abstract

We measured the in vivo equilibrium and response characteristics of a commercially available non-invasive deep body thermometry (DBT) system using a heated skin surface probe designed to provide atraumatic approximations of core body temperatures. We then compared those characteristics to those of a conventional, passive, wedged nasal thermistor device. We concluded that DBT systems such as the Coretemp may be useful in monitoring slow, progressive changes in temperature such as may be seen in an intensive care environment, but the DBT technique is not clinically appropriate for monitoring the rapid changes in patient temperature that may occur during general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass.