Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T06:07:53.527Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Tympanic thermometry and minor ear surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

A. Tomkinson ,
D. G. Roblin ,
S. M. Quine  and
P. Flanagan
A. Tomkinson*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
D. G. Roblin
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
S. M. Quine
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
P. Flanagan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A. Tomkinson, F.R.C.S., The Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Infra-red tympanic thermometry is a relatively new technique for measuring body temperature which requires the minimum of co-operation and is quick and easy to use. It is therefore ideal for use in children. Its use is becoming more widespread and as it is theoretically possible that minor ear surgery may interfere with function its reliability in these patients may be in question.

Twenty-two children (mean age 5.3 years) who underwent myringotomy ± grommet insertion had the tympanic temperature of each ear measured immediately before, and 15 minutes after, surgery on the recovery ward. No difference was found between the pre- and post-operative temperatures (mean difference – 0.1°C, p>0.1, paired t-test, hypothesized difference of 0).

This thermometer appears to be a reliable way of monitoring body temperature on a paediatric ENT recovery ward in patients who have undergone minor ear surgery.

Keywords

Tympanic membraneThermometersPaediatrics
Type
Short Communication
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 110 , Issue 5 , May 1996 , pp. 454 - 455
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexander, D., Kelly, B. (1991) Cost effectiveness of tympanic thermometry in the pediatric office setting. Clinical Pediatrics 30 (suppl 4): 57–59.Google Scholar
Altman, D. G. (1980) Statistics and ethics in medical research. British Medical Journal 281: 1336–1338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chamberlain, J. M.Grandner, J., Rubinoff, J. L., Klein, B. L., Waisman, Y., Huey, M. (1991) Comparison of a tympanic thermometer to rectal and oral thermometers in a pediatric emergency department. Clinical Pediatrics 30 (suppl 4): 24–29.Google Scholar
Edge, G., Morgan, M. (1993) The genius infrared tympanic thermometer. An evaluation for clinical use. Anaesthesia 48 (7): 604–607.Google Scholar
Erickson, R. S., Kirklin, S. K. (1993) Comparison of ear-based, bladder, oral, and axillary methods for core temperature measurement. Critical Care Medicine 21 (10): 1528–1534.Google Scholar
Klein, D. G., Mitchell, C.Petrinec, A., Monroe, M. K., Oblak, M., Ross, B., Youngblut, J. M. (1993) A comparison of pulmonary artery, rectal, and tympanic membrane temperature measurement in the ICU. Heart and Lung 22 (5): 435–441.Google Scholar
Rogers, J., Curley, M., Driscoll, J., Kerrigan, T., LeBlanc, G., Libman, M., McCarty, K. (1991) Evaluation of tympanic membrane thermometer for use with pediatric patients. Pediatric Nursing 17 (4): 376–378.Google Scholar
Romano, M. J., Fortenberry, J. D., Autrey, E., Harris, S., Heyroth, T., Parmeter, P., Stein, F. (1993) Infrared tympanic thermometry in the pediatric intensive care unit. Critical Care Medicine 218 (8): 1181–1185.Google Scholar
White, N., Baird, S., Anderson, D. L. (1994) A comparison of tympanic thermometer readings to pulmonary artery catheter core temperature recordings. Applied Nursing Research 7 (4): 165–169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed