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Table 8 Different sites for temperature measurement, advantages and disadvantages for field use [200]

From: Multiple trauma management in mountain environments - a scoping review

 

Advantages

Disadvantages

Suitability for prehospital use

Logistic considerations

Field tested

Skin (heat flux)

Noninvasive

Low correlation with core temperature

High

Skin temperature affected by environment, e.g. cold or wet

Yes (experimental animal model)

Epitympanic

Minimally invasive. Correlates with brain temperature

Influenced by ambient temperature and insulation of ear canal. Affected if ear canal contains water or snow [202].

Moderate-high

Insulation of the external auditory canal improves the reliability of the reading. Thermistor technology ideal; infrared technology not reliable

Yes

Rectum

Commonly used in hospital

Lags behind core temperature when rewarming

Moderate

Needs to be inserted deeply (> 15 cm) to avoid measuring temperature of cold feces

Yes

Bladder

Allows to monitor urinary output

Can be affected by cold diuresis. Impractical for field use

Low

Mostly monitor based probes

No

Oesophageal

Best correlation with core temperature

Requires an advanced airway in place. Needs to be positioned in lower third of oesophagus for reliability

Moderate

Mostly monitor based (only one hand-held device)

Yes