AJCC
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

American Journal of Critical Care. 2007;16: 485-496
Copyright © 2007 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Respond to This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in AJCC
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lawson, L.
Right arrow Articles by Sochulak, V.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lawson, L.
Right arrow Articles by Sochulak, V.

Accuracy and Precision of Noninvasive Temperature Measurement in Adult Intensive Care Patients

By Lari Lawson, RN, MN, Elizabeth J. Bridges, RN, PhD, CCNS, Isabelle Ballou, RN, BSN, Ruthe Eraker, RN, BSN, Sheryl Greco, RN, MN, CCRN, Janie Shively, RN, BSN and Vanessa Sochulak, RN, BSN. Lari Lawson and Sheryl Greco are clinical nurse specialists in critical care, Isabelle Ballou and Vanessa Sochulak are staff nurses and Janie Shively is the assistant nurse manager in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit, and Ruthe Eraker is a staff nurse in the medical-surgical transplant intensive care unit at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Elizabeth J. Bridges is the clinical nurse researcher at the University of Washington Medical Center and an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle.

Corresponding author: Elizabeth Bridges, RN, PhD, CCNS, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 357266, Seattle WA 98195 (e-mail: ebridges{at}u.washington.edu).

Background Research on the accuracy and precision of noninvasive methods of measuring body temperature is equivocal.

Objectives To determine accuracy and precision of oral, ear-based, temporal artery, and axillary temperature measurements compared with pulmonary artery temperature.

Methods Repeated-measures design conducted for 6 months. Sequential temperature measurements on the same side of the body were obtained within 1 minute, with measurements repeated 3 times at 20-minute intervals. Accuracy, precision, and confidence limits were analyzed.

Results In 60 adults with cardiopulmonary disease and a pulmonary artery catheter, mean pulmonary artery temperature was 37.1°C (SD 0.6°C, range 35.3°C–39.4°C). Mean (SD) offset from pulmonary artery temperature (with the mean reflecting accuracy and SD reflecting precision) and confidence limits were 0.09°C (0.43°C) and –0.75°C to 0.93°C for oral measurements, –0.36°C (0.56°C) and –1.46°C to 0.74°C for ear measurements, –0.02°C (0.47°C) and –0.92°C to 0.88°C for temporal artery measurements, and 0.23°C (0.44°C) and –0.64°C to 1.12°C for axillary measurements. Percentage of pairs with differences greater than ±0.5°C was 19% for oral, 49% for ear, 20% for temporal artery, and 27% for axillary measurements. Intubation increased oral measurements compared with pulmonary artery temperatures (mean difference 0.3°C, SD 0.3°C, P = .001).

Conclusions Oral and temporal artery measurements were most accurate and precise. Axillary measurements underestimated pulmonary artery temperature. Ear measurements were least accurate and precise. Intubation affected the accuracy of oral measurements; diaphoresis and airflow across the face may affect temporal artery measurements.


Related articles in AJCC:

Clinical Pearls
Mary Jo Grap
AJCC 2007 16: 432. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Crit Care NurseHome page
E. Bridges and K. Thomas
Noninvasive Measurement of Body Temperature in Critically Ill Patients
Crit. Care Nurse, June 1, 2009; 29(3): 94 - 97.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J Crit CareHome page
P. Kiekkas, G. C. Sakellaropoulos, H. Brokalaki, E. Manolis, A. Samios, C. Skartsani, and G. I. Baltopoulos
Nursing Workload Associated With Fever in the General Intensive Care Unit
Am. J. Crit. Care., November 1, 2008; 17(6): 522 - 531.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2007 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.