Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
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J. Perianesth. Nurs. · Apr 2010
Comparative StudyTemperature measurement in patients undergoing colorectal surgery and gynecology surgery: a comparison of esophageal core, temporal artery, and oral methods.
Maintaining perioperative normothermia reduces postoperative complications. An accurate, noninvasive method to take temperatures representative of core temperature is needed. Oral thermometry is accepted as the most accurate means of non-core temperature assessment, but poses challenges in patients who are intubated or wearing oxygen masks. ⋯ Differences between core (esophageal) thermometry and oral or temporal artery thermometry were statistically significant but much smaller than the 0.4 degrees C identified as clinically acceptable. Oral and temporal artery temperatures are within the 0.4 degrees C of core (esophageal) temperatures, a difference that is considered clinically acceptable. Temperatures taken orally or by temporal artery thermometry are acceptable as noninvasive core measures for adult patients undergoing colorectal or gynecology surgery.