A Study in the Comparison of Body Temperature Change between General Anesthesia and Epidural Anesthesia

Park, Ji Ae; Chung, Mi Hwa; Won, Rim Soo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Core hypothermia after induction of anesthesia results from an core-to-peripheral redistribution of body heat and a loss of body heat to environment. The purpose of this study is finding body temperatures during operation by either general of epidural anesthesia and evaluates content of total body heat.
METHODS
We measured tympanic membrane temperature, 4 point skin temperature (mid calf, mid thigh, upper extremity, nipple). And we calculate mean skin temperature, mean body temperature, total body heat content changes based on tympanic membrane temperature and 4 point skin temperature.
RESULTS
Tympanic membrane temperature of the first group decreased significantly after 10 minutes of induction (p<0.005), the second group decreased after 45 minutes of induction. Although upper extremity temperature has continuously increased as time passed, there was no significant difference in both group. Lower extremity temperature has significantly increased after 30 minutes of induction in the first group, and the second group has significantly increased after 10 minutes of induction (p<0.05). Mean skin temperature hasdecreasd temperaturily in both group after 10 minutes of induction and increased as time passed. Mean body temperature of the first group has significantly decreased after 10 minutes of induction (p<0.05) and second group has no significant changes. Total body heat content has continuously decreased after induction with no significance.
CONCLUSIONS
General anesthesia reveals more significant decrease than epidural anesthesia. Both groups show significant decrease of body temperature after induction. We think that we need to close attention to temperature changes after induction for preventing possible side effects due to core hypothermia.