Anesth Analg 2007;105:283
© 2007 International Anesthesia Research Society
doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000261265.22632.dd
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Increases Core Body Temperature in Sedated Children
Edmond I. Eger, II, MD
Professor of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care; University of California; San Francisco, CA; egere{at}anesthesia.ucsf.edu
To the Editor:
Bryan et al. (1) found a 0.5°C increase in tympanic membrane temperatures in infants undergoing magnetic resonance imaging for 41 ± 14 (mean ± sd) min under chloralose sedation. They further found that the greatest increases occurred in infants having the lowest temperatures before imaging, five of these increases exceeding 1.0°C. Several explanations were provided. I would add one possibility. The tympanic membrane temperature measured after imaging immediately followed removal of earplugs inserted into each infant's auditory canal for the period of imaging. That is, local heat loss was more limited during this period. Is it possible that some temperatures measured before imaging were falsely low? This explanation would be consistent with the greatest increases occurring in infants having the lowest temperatures before imaging.
Unfortunately, the study did not permit use of a control group of infants having chloralose and earplugs, but no imaging.
REFERENCE
- Bryan YF, Templeton TW, Nick TG, et al. Brain magnetic resonance imaging increases core body temperature in sedated children. Anesth Analg 2006;102:16749.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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