LAUSR

Aim A study was done to observe that serial temperature monitoring in early post-op period correlates with extubation outcome. Material and methods This is a prospective observational study. The patients who underwent cardiac surgery for various congenital and acquired heart defects and admitted in PICCU were enrolled in the study. The peripheral toe temperature post surgery at hour 0,1,2,4,6,12,24 and 48 were recorded. Results There were a total of 30 patients enrolled in the study who had undergone cardiac surgery. Post operatively in PICCU at each of 0,1,2,4,6,12,24 and 48 hours peripheral toe temperature was recorded and then they were divided into good outcome (successful extubation) and poor outcome (unsuccessful extubation, requiring re-intubation). Then mean temperature at each hour was calculated based on the outcome. The serial measurement of p-value calculated at 0,1,2,4,6,12,24 and 48 hours is <0.001. It therefore states that the temperature at different time point is statistically significantly higher in patients with good outcome. Conclusion The normal range peripheral toe temperature in pediatric patients in early post-op period following cardiac surgery correlate well with successful extubation. There are multiple factors effecting this relationship and need further studies.