Comparison of infrared thermometer with thermocouple for monitoring skin temperature

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the infrared thermometer (Genius) is comparably useful with thermocouples that are routinely used for skin temp erature monitoring, Design: Prospective, controlled, not blinded study. Setting: Operating room of a university hospital, Subjects: Ten healthy male volunteers, Interventions: Volunteers were minimally clothed and were initially warmed by a forced air warmer until they became vasodilated at the finger and the foot for similar to 30 mins, Subsequently, they were kept in the room with no blanket, Measurements and Main Results: Skin temperatures were measured continuously with the Mon-a-Therm thermocouple and were also measured with the Genius t hermometer just before and after the warming and subsequently every 10 mins for 70 mins, Forearm and finger-tip skin temperatures and skin-surface tem perature gradients (from arm to finger and from calf to toe) measured by th e Genius thermometer were compared with those measured by the Mon-a-Therm t hermocouple using linear regression and Bland and Altman statistics, Forear m temperature and finger-tip temperature ranged from approximate to 31 degr ees to approximate to 36.5 degrees C (87.8-97.7 degrees F) and approximate to 22.5 degrees to approximate to 36 degrees C (72.5-96.8 degrees F), respe ctively, Gradients (from arm to finger and from calf to toe) ranged from ap proximate to-3 degrees to approximate to 10 degrees C (26.6-50.0 degrees F) and approximate to-3 degrees to approximate to 11 degrees C (26.6-50.0 deg rees F), respectively, Correlations between the temperatures measured by th e Genius thermometer and those by the Mon-a-Therm thermocouple were similar and reliable. The correlation coefficients were as follows: 0.78 at forear m, 0.97 at finger-tip, and 0.97 at skin-surface temperature gradients, Conclusions: The infrared thermometer with a special probe is useful to mea sure the change of skin-surface temperatures and to evaluate the severity o f shock in patients.