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[Mean body temperature during anesthesia in children with burns--its information value and use]

Khirurgiia
|January 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

This study found significant body temperature reduction in children during anesthesia with halothane, methoxyflurane, or ketamine. No significant differences in temperature were observed between the anesthetic agents used.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Thermoregulation Research

Background:

  • Maintaining normothermia in pediatric patients during anesthesia is crucial for preventing complications.
  • Various anesthetic agents can influence intraoperative body temperature.
  • Limited data exists on comparative body temperature changes across different anesthetic techniques in pediatric burn patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of halothane, methoxyflurane, and ketamine anesthesia on mean body temperature in pediatric patients undergoing surgery.
  • To assess the impact of different anesthetic regimens on thermoregulation during prolonged procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Forty-four pediatric patients (0.4-0.6 sq. m. total body surface area) with burns (6-60% TBSA) were divided into three groups.
  • Group 1: Halothane, nitrous oxide, oxygen with controlled ventilation.
  • Group 2: Methoxyflurane, nitrous oxide, oxygen with controlled ventilation.
  • Group 3: Ketamine IV anesthesia with spontaneous respiration.
  • Rectal and skin temperatures were recorded every 15 minutes over a 2-hour anesthesia period.

Main Results:

  • A significant reduction in mean body temperature was observed during the first and second hours of anesthesia, as well as post-extubation, across all groups.
  • No statistically significant differences in mean body temperature were found between the halothane, methoxyflurane, and ketamine anesthesia groups.
  • Mean body temperature demonstrated low informative value for individual patient thermal assessment.

Conclusions:

  • The choice of anesthetic agent (halothane, methoxyflurane, or ketamine) did not significantly impact the degree of intraoperative hypothermia in this pediatric surgical population.
  • Mean body temperature monitoring alone may be insufficient for comprehensive thermal balance assessment in pediatric anesthesia.
  • Further research into more sensitive indicators of thermoregulation is warranted.

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