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Skin temperature as a noninvasive marker of haemodynamic and perfusion status in adult cardiac surgical patients : an observational study

journal contribution
posted on 2009-02-01, 00:00 authored by B Schey, D Williams, Tracey BucknallTracey Bucknall
Objective
Foot temperature has long been advocated as a reliable noninvasive measure of cardiac output despite equivocal evidence. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between noninvasively measured skin temperature and the more invasive core-peripheral temperature gradients (CPTGs), against cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, serum lactate, and base deficit.

Research methodology
The study was of a prospective, observational and correlational design. Seventy-six measurements were recorded on 10 adults postcardiac surgery. Haemodynamic assessments were made via bolus thermodilution. Skin temperature was measured objectively via adhesive probes, and subjectively using a three-point scale.

Setting
The study was conducted within a tertiary level intensive care unit.

Results
Cardiac output was a significant predictor for objectively measured skin temperature and CPTG (p = .001 and p = .004, respectively). Subjective assessment of skin temperature was significantly related to cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and serum lactate (p < .001, respectively).

Conclusions
These results support the utilisation of skin temperature as a noninvasive marker of cardiac output and perfusion. The use of CPTG was shown to be unnecessary, given the parallels in results with the less invasive skin temperature parameters. A larger study is however required to validate these findings.

History

Journal

Intensive and critical care nursing

Volume

25

Issue

1

Pagination

31 - 37

Publisher

Churchill Livingstone

Location

Edinburgh, Scotland

ISSN

0964-3397

eISSN

1532-4036

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2009, Elsevier Ltd

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