Exergen DT 1001-RS, DT 1001-LT, DT 1001-LN manual Thermal Assessment of Skin Diseases and Allergy

Toe temperature vs. cardiac index

(Boycks et al)

Toe temperature as a prognosis

(Boycks et al)

Thermal Assessment of Skin Diseases and Allergy

Temperature monitoring provides an objective assessment of skin dis- eases2 as well as allergy and vasomotor tests3 since most of the skin diseases, or the percutaneous injection of pharmacodynamic substances used for testing, generate significant changes in the thermal pattern of the skin.

Skin Temperature in Prognosis of the Critically Ill

Skin temperature has been the subject of several studies monitoring blood flow in the critically ill.

Data from these studies in- dicate increases in the tem- perature of skin, especially the big toe, were accompa- nied by improvement in the clinical status of the patient, and significantly greater survival. Boycks and Weil4 concluded toe temperature provided the best correlation with cardiac index and prog- nosis of survival compared to arm, finger, thigh, or rec- tal temperatures.

Kholoussy et al (1980)5 demon- strated attainment of normal rec- tal-toe temperature gradient con- sistently coincided with hemody- namic stabilization of the patient as indicated by other simulta- neously measured parameters and by the clinical condition. In all the patients that died, rectal- toe temperature gradient gradu- ally and progressively increased as the patient’s condition became terminal.

Monitoring central peripheral temperature gradient was determined can accurately reflect the state of peripheral circulation, though may be lim- ited by peripheral vascular disease, central hypothermia, and the use of vasoactive drugs.

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