Skin temperature response to a pressure load: studies in subjects before and during spinal anesthesia

The Pressure-Temperature-Time method (PTT-method) is a method to investigate skin temperature changes in response to a pressure load. This method was used to investigate the effect of an acute nerve conduction block on the skin temperature increase of the trochanter major, after the pressure load was removed. The PTT-method was used in a group of 30 subjects, undergoing minor surgical procedures, before and during an anesthetic nerve conduction block at L2-L3. In comparison with the results before spinal anesthesia, the skin temperature responses were significantly delayed (p < .01) and slower (p < .001) after the spinal blockade. We concluded, therefore, that the nervous system has an important effect on the recovery of skin temperature after a pressure load.