title: Infra-red thermometry: the reliability of tympanic and temporal artery readings for predicting brain temperature after severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Temperature measurement is important during routine neurocritical care especially as differences between brain and systemic temperatures have been observed. The purpose of the study was to determine if infra-red temporal artery thermometry provides a better estimate of brain temperature than tympanic membrane temperature for patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brain parenchyma, tympanic membrane and temporal artery temperatures were recorded every 15-30 min for five hours during the first seven days after admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients aged 17-76 years were recruited. Brain and tympanic membrane temperature differences ranged from -0.8 degrees C to 2.5 degrees C (mean 0.9 degrees C). Brain and temporal artery temperature differences ranged from -0.7 degrees C to 1.5 degrees C (mean 0.3 degrees C). Tympanic membrane temperature differed from brain temperature by an average of 0.58 degrees C more than temporal artery temperature measurements (95% CI 0.31 degrees C to 0.85 degrees C, P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At temperatures within the normal to febrile range, temporal artery temperature is closer to brain temperature than is tympanic membrane temperature.
authors.affiliation: Brain Injury Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD UK. dani_kirk@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vail
authors.forename: Charmaine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Childs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology*