Anesth Pain Med.  2024 Jan;19(1):35-43. 10.17085/apm.23107.

Application of the Bair Hugger™ core body temperature at wrist region with upper body warming blanket: a prospective observational study

• Oh KS
• Park YH
• Baek C
• Woo YC

• KMID: 2552855
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.23107

Abstract

Background
Body temperature monitoring is essential during the perioperative period. However, core body temperature measurement requires invasive device that may cause complications. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of non-invasive Bair Hugger™ core body temperature monitoring system (BHTMS) at the wrist compared with esophageal temperature under general anesthesia.
Methods
Twenty adult patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II were enrolled. BHTMS sensor was applied at wrist region. After tracheal intubation, an esophageal probe was inserted. Bair Hugger™ upper body warming blankets were used. Esophageal temperature (Teso) and BHTMS at wrist (Twrist) were recorded every 10 min.
Results
Total of 257 pairs of data sets were analyzed: Teso and Twrist had no statistically significant difference (P = 0.103). Median of Teso and Twrist were 36.5°C and 36.4°C. Bland-Altman analysis showed Teso – Twrist of 0.14°C ± 1.44. Subsequently, 99 pairs of 0–40 min data set were analyzed and showed significant difference at 0 and 10 min (P < 0.001) but no significant difference at 20, 30 and 40 min. Bland– Altman plot by times showed difference (Teso - Twrist) of 1.49°C ± 2.00, 0.82°C ± 1.30, 0.29°C ± 1.32, –0.03°C ± 0.84, and –0.12°C ± 0.82 at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 min respectively.
Conclusions
BHTMS at wrist area under the upper body warming blanket is a potential alternative other than esophageal temperature for monitoring body temperature after 30 min of anesthesia induction.

Keyword

Perioperative period; Body temperature; Thermometers; Intraoperative monitoring; Intraoperative care; Hypothermia

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Comparison of Teso and Twrist. Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed, and no statistical difference was observed (P = 0.103). Teso: esophageal temperature, Twrist: temperature recorded using the Bair Hugger™ core body temperature monitoring system at the wrist.

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  Fig. 2. Spearman correlation between Teso and Twrist. Teso: esophageal temperature, Twrist: temperature recorded using the Bair Hugger™ core body temperature monitoring system at the wrist, Rs: Spearman correlation coefficient.

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  Fig. 3. Pearson correlation between Teso and Twrist by times. Teso and Twrist were recorded at 0 min (A), 10 min (B), 20 min (C), 30 min (D) and 40 min (E). Teso: esophageal temperature, Twrist: temperature recorded using the Bair Hugger™ core body temperature monitoring system at the wrist, R: Pearson correlation coefficient.

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  Fig. 4. Bland-Altman plot of Teso and Twrist. Teso: esophageal temperature, Twrist: temperature recorded using the Bair Hugger™ core body temperature monitoring system at the wrist, SD: standard deviation.

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  Fig. 5. Bland-Altman plots of Teso and Twrist at 0 min (A), 10 min (B), 20 min (C), 30 min (D), and 40 min (E). Teso: esophageal temperature, Twrist: temperature recorded using the Bair Hugger™ core body temperature monitoring system at the wrist, SD: standard deviation.

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