Comparison of temporal artery, mid-forehead skin and axillary temperature recordings in preterm infants <1500 g of birthweight.
OBJECTIVE
Preterm infants are prone to temperature maintenance problems due to immature thermoregulatory mechanism and relatively large body surface area. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the performance of a new non-invasive infrared thermometer applied to the mid-forehead and temporal artery in comparison with axillary temperature recordings by mercury-in-glass thermometer, and to determine the discomfort caused by these procedures in preterm infants on incubator care.


METHODS
The present comparative prospective study was composed of 34 preterm infants <1500 g of birthweight nursed in an incubator. Temperature recording from mid-forehead, temporal artery and axilla were recorded six times a day for 7 days since the end of the first week of life. For pain assessment, the premature infant pain profile (PIPP) was used.


RESULTS
The mean mid-forehead, temporal artery and axillary temperatures were 36.72 +/- 0.08, 36.81 +/- 0.09 and 36.71 +/- 0.07 degrees C, respectively. No statistically significant difference was noted between the means of mid-forehead and axillary temperatures. The mean temporal artery temperature was statistically higher than the means of the mid-forehead and axillary temperatures. The PIPP scores of the mid-forehead, temporal artery and axillary temperature measurements were 5.07 +/- 0.36 degrees C, 5.18 +/- 0.43 degrees C and 7.59 +/- 0.84 degrees C, respectively. The mean PIPP score of axillary temperature measurements was statistically higher than the means of mid-forehead and temporal artery measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
The infrared skin thermometer applied to the mid-forehead is a useful and valid device for easy and less painful measurement of skin temperature in preterm infants <1500 g of birthweight.
Duran
Ridvan
R
Department of Pediatrics, Trakya University School of Medicine, 22030 Edirne, Turkey. ridvan_duran@yahoo.com
Vatansever
Ulfet
U
Acunaş
Betül
B
Süt
Necdet
N
D001365:Axilla; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D013821:Thermometers