Related Experiment Videos
Central temperature changes are poorly perceived during epidural anesthesia
B Glosten1, D I Sessler, E A Faure
1Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago.
Anesthesiology
|July 1, 1992
Summary
During epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery, patients do not perceive central temperature changes. Skin temperature, not core body temperature, influences how warm or cold patients feel during this procedure.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Physiology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Hypothermia and shivering are common side effects of epidural anesthesia during cesarean delivery.
- However, patients often do not report feeling cold despite significant core temperature drops.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether central temperature changes are perceived by patients undergoing epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery.
- To determine the relationship between central and skin temperatures and thermal perception during this procedure.
Main Methods:
- Thirty patients undergoing cesarean delivery with epidural anesthesia were monitored.
- Central and skin temperatures, along with subjective thermal perception, were recorded.
Main Results:
- Central body temperature decreased by 1.0 ± 0.6°C during anesthesia and surgery.
- Thermal perception scores did not correlate with central temperatures or their changes (P > 0.56).
- A sensation of warmth was significantly associated with increased mean skin temperature (P = 0.02) and upper body skin temperature (P = 0.03).
Conclusions:
- Central temperature is poorly perceived during high levels of epidural anesthesia.
- Skin temperature plays a more critical role than core temperature in determining thermal perception in this context.