Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the equivalency of the prototype of a new infrared ear thermometer (IRT 4000) in comparison to the temperature measurements of a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and a continual contact probe on the tympanic membrane.
Methods
After approval by the local Ethics Committee, 26 (six female and 20 male) patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were included in a single center open trial. During surgery, temperature measurements were recorded with the IRT 4000 in the left ear, and with a tympanic contact probe in the right ear, as well as with a PAC as reference. Measurements with the infrared ear thermometers and continual PAC values were recorded every six minutes.
Results
The average temperature measured with the IRT 4000 was 0.08°C above the temperature of the PAC (95% confidence interval from -0.44-0.61°C).
Conclusion
Infrared ear thermometers 4000 temperature readings accurately reflect body core temperature and correlate well with the invasive PAC. Infrared ear thermometers may present a clinically useful alternative to the pulmonary artery thermometry for the measurement of core temperature in the perioperative setting or in the intensive care unit.
Résumé
Objectif
Évaluer ľéquivalence entre le prototype ďun nouveau thermomètre auriculaire infrarouge (IRT 4000), les mesures de température ďun cathéter de ľartère pulmonaire (CAP) et une sonde en contact permanent avec la membrane tympanique.
Méthode
Avec ľaccord du Comité ďéthique, nous avons recruté 26 patients (6 femmes et 20 hommes), devant subir une intervention cardiaque réglée, pour une étude ouverte monocentrique. Pendant ľopération, la température a été mesurée avec le IRT 4000 dans ľoreille gauche et avec la sonde en contact avec le tympan dans ľoreille droite de même qu’avec le CAP comme point de référence. Les mesures faites avec les thermomètres infrarouges et les valeurs continues du CAP ont été enregistrées toutes les six minutes.
Résultats
La température moyenne mesurée avec le IRT 4000 a été de 0,08 °C au-dessus de la température notée avec le CAP (intervalle de confiance de 95 % de -0,44-0,61 °C).
Conclusion
Les mesures des thermomètres infrarouges 4000 correspondent précisément à la température centrale du corps et sont en corrélation avec le CAP. Les thermomètres auriculaires infrarouges peuvent remplacer la thermométrie de ľartère pulmonaire pour mesurer la température centrale dans le contexte périopératoire ou à ľunité des soins intensifs.
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Bock, M., Hohlfeld, U., Engeln, K.v. et al. The accuracy of a new infrared ear thermometer in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Can J Anesth 52, 1083–1087 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03021609
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03021609