Skin temperature as a noninvasive marker of haemodynamic and perfusion status in adult cardiac surgical patients: an observational study.

Objective: Foot temperature has long been advocated as a reliable noninvasive measure of cardiac output despite equivocal evidence. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between noninvasively measured skin temperature and the more invasive core-peripheral temperature gradients (CPTGs), against cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, serum lactate, and base deficit.

Research Methodology: The study was of a prospective, observational and correlational design. Seventy-six measurements were recorded on 10 adults postcardiac surgery. Haemodynamic assessments were made via bolus thermodilution. Skin temperature was measured objectively via adhesive probes, and subjectively using a three-point scale.

Setting: The study was conducted within a tertiary level intensive care unit.

Results: Cardiac output was a significant predictor for objectively measured skin temperature and CPTG (p=.001 and p=.004, respectively). Subjective assessment of skin temperature was significantly related to cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and serum lactate (p<.001, respectively).

Conclusions: These results support the utilisation of skin temperature as a noninvasive marker of cardiac output and perfusion. The use of CPTG was shown to be unnecessary, given the parallels in results with the less invasive skin temperature parameters. A larger study is however required to validate these findings.