The accuracy of a new infrared ear thermometer in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Can J Anaesth. 2005 Dec;52(10):1083-7. doi: 10.1007/BF03021609.

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 degrees C above the temperature of the PAC (95% confidence interval from -0.44-0.61 degrees 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.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Body Temperature / physiology*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures*
  • Catheterization, Peripheral
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infrared Rays
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Thermometers*
  • Tympanic Membrane / physiology*