CALCULATION OF MEAN SKIN TEMPERATURE AND CHANGES IN BODY HEAT-CONTENTDURING PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA

Mean skin temperature and changes in body heat content were calculated in several different ways from measurements made in five children dur ing operation. Mean skin temperatures were calculated from 162 sets of measurements using 15, 12, eight, seven and four skin sites with vari ous formulae modified according to age. The results of other formulae were compared with age-adjusted, area-weighted 15-site mean skin tempe rature which was used as a reference. Changes in body heat content wer e calculated from Burton's equation in different ways and errors from different variables in she formula were evaluated Mean skin temperatur e from 12 skin sites was within 0.5 degrees C of the 15-point referenc e meshed, and that from four sites within 1 degrees C. The core temper ature selected and the weighting coefficients used in calculating mean body temperature were more important sources of error in the determin ation of change in body heat content than was mean skin temperature.