Performance of a transesophageal echocardiography probe at temperature monitoring during simulated hypothermia and rewarming

Madeline Larochelle; Margarita Popova; David Mackenzie; Andrew Fried; Peter Croft; Joshua Rehberg; Christina Wilson

doi:10.15441/ceem.24.321

Brief Research Report

doi: https://doi.org/10.15441/ceem.24.321 [Accepted]

Performance of a transesophageal echocardiography probe at temperature monitoring during simulated hypothermia and rewarming

Madeline Larochelle¹, Margarita Popova¹, David Mackenzie^1,2, Andrew Fried^1,2, Peter Croft^1,2, Joshua Rehberg^1,2, Christina Wilson^1,2

¹Department of Emergency Medicine MaineHealth Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
²Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence Christina Wilson Tel: 207.662.7010, Fax: 207.662.7054, Email: christina.wilson@mainehealth.org

Received: September 24, 2024. Revised: December 17, 2024. Accepted: December 18, 2024. Published online: January 15, 2025.

ABSTRACT

Objective
To determine whether a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe can accurately measure temperature and be used to monitor temperature changes over time without overheating in an experimental model of hypothermia and rewarming.
Methods
A 6-L water bath was heated with a sous vide immersion circulator to 24, 28, 32, and 36 °C to simulate severe hypothermia, moderate hypothermia, mild hypothermia, and normothermia, respectively. A TEE probe, esophageal temperature probe, and bladder temperature probe were used to measure temperature every 60 seconds for 15 minutes.
Result
s: The TEE probe reported temperatures with a mean difference of 0.60 °C (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51 to 0.69 °C) compared to the sous vide immersion circulator. The esophageal probe and bladder probe reported temperatures with a mean difference of –0.19 °C (95% CI, –0.23 to –0.14 °C) and –0.20 °C (95% CI, –0.26 to –0.14 °C), respectively.
Conclusion
During this simulation, the TEE tip temperature did not increase beyond the expected changes produced by water temperature. The probe temperature was less accurate than the esophageal and bladder temperature probes but demonstrated precision in monitoring temperature changes and stable hypothermia. Based on this study, TEE probes should not be relied upon for an accurate initial temperature but can likely be used to monitor changes in temperature over time.

Keywords: Transesophageal echocardiography; Resuscitation; Hypothermia; Cardiac arrest