Temperature Difference Between the Brain and Axilla in Patients Under Hypothermia

Yoo, Do Sung; Kim, Dal Soo; Huh, Pil Woo; Cho, Kyung Suck; Kim, Jae Gun; Park, Chun Kun; Kang, Joon Ki

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The brain temperature is about 0.4-1 degrees C higher than that of the other peripheral body area. But most of these results have been obtained in normothermic condition. The objective of this study is to evaluate the temperature difference between the brain and axilla, in patients under hypothermia.
METHODS
Sixty-three patients(37 women and 26 men) who underwent craniotomy with implantation of the thermal diffusion flowmetry sensor were included in this study. The temperature of the cerebral cortex and axilla was measured every 2 hours, simultaneously. The patient group was divided according to axillary temperature hyperthermia(over 38 degrees C), normothermia(36-38 degrees C) and hypothermia(under 36 degrees C). Total 1671 paired sample data were collected and analyzed.
RESULTS
The temperature difference between the cerebral cortex and the axilla was 0.45+/-1.04 degrees C in hyperthermic patients, 0.97+/-1.1 degrees C in normothermic patients and 1.04+/-0.81 degrees C in hypothermic patients. The temperature difference has statistical significance in each group(unpaired t-test, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
From our study the temperature difference between the brain and the axilla in hypothermic condition increased more than that of normothermic state. And in hyperthermic condition, the temperature difference decreased.