Central and peripheral rewarming patterns in postoperative cardiac patients.

Abstract

Central and peripheral temperature patterns in rewarming cardiac surgery patients have been studied by thermistor and infrared scanning techniques. These studies were combined with comprehensive patient monitoring records in a series of five patients. Evidence that thermoregulation, cardiac output, and drug action strongly affect the rewarming patterns could be substantiated for this limited series. In general an anatomic sequence of rewarming occurs in which the toes rewarm before the entire foot. Patterns of rewarming at the fingers and hands were similar to those at the toes. There was interpatient variation in the detailed temporal-spatial re-warming pattern of the digits. Blood flow rates to the toe were computed in accordance with the temperature data and were substantiated by venous occlusion plethysmography.