Esophageal temperature probe
Disclosures
- updated 10 Nov 2022:
- Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Speaker fees (past)
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
Oesophageal temperature probes are used to monitor core body temperatures in patients receiving anaesthesia. The probe is advanced either through the nasal passage or oral cavity, before following a similar path to a nasogastric tube.
Indications
Clinically significant changes in core body temperature that may be:
- anticipated 1
- suspected 1
- intended 1
Contraindications
- known oesophageal strictures 2
- oesophageal cancer 2
- oesophageal perforation 2
- end-stage liver diseases and varices 2
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
A correctly placed oesophageal temperature probe should:
- descend the midline, following the oesophageal path and avoiding the contours of the bronchi
- clearly bisect the carina or bronchi
- have its tip
- in the lower third of the oesophageal tract 3
- at the mid-level of the heart
Malpositioning may include tip position:
- traversing either bronchus or more distally into the lung
- coiling in the upper airway
Given that the linear radiopaque marker on a temperature probe may at times be of similar thickness to a nasogastric tube, care must be taken to ensure the devices are not mistaken for each other.
Complications
Insertion
- kinking
-<p><strong>Oesophageal temperature probes</strong> are used to monitor core body temperatures in patients receiving anaesthesia. The probe is advanced either through the nasal passage or oral cavity, before following a similar path to a <a href="/articles/nasogastric-tube-positioning">nasogastric tube</a>.</p><h4>Indications</h4><p>Clinically significant changes in core body temperature that may be:</p><ul>-<li>anticipated <sup>1</sup>-</li>-<li>suspected <sup>1</sup>-</li>-<li>intended <sup>1</sup>-</li>-</ul><h4>Contraindications</h4><ul>-<li>known <a href="/articles/oesophageal-stricture">oesophageal strictures</a> <sup>2</sup>-</li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/oesophageal-carcinoma-1">oesophageal cancer</a> <sup>2</sup>-</li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/oesophageal-perforation">oesophageal perforation</a> <sup>2</sup>-</li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/meld-score">end-stage liver diseases</a> and varices <sup>2</sup>-</li>-</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>A correctly placed oesophageal temperature probe should:</p><ul>-<li>descend the midline, following the oesophageal path and avoiding the contours of the bronchi</li>-<li>clearly bisect the <a href="/articles/carina">carina</a> or bronchi</li>-<li>have its tip<ul>-<li>in the lower third of the oesophageal tract <sup>3</sup>-</li>-<li>at the mid-level of the heart</li>-</ul>-</li>-</ul><p>Malpositioning may include tip position:</p><ul>-<li>traversing either bronchus or more distally into the lung</li>-<li>coiling in the upper airway</li>- +<p><strong>Oesophageal temperature probes</strong> are used to monitor core body temperatures in patients receiving anaesthesia. The probe is advanced either through the nasal passage or oral cavity, before following a similar path to a <a href="/articles/nasogastric-tube-positioning">nasogastric tube</a>.</p><h4>Indications</h4><p>Clinically significant changes in core body temperature that may be:</p><ul>
- +<li>anticipated <sup>1</sup>
- +</li>
- +<li>suspected <sup>1</sup>
- +</li>
- +<li>intended <sup>1</sup>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h4>Contraindications</h4><ul>
- +<li>known <a href="/articles/oesophageal-stricture">oesophageal strictures</a> <sup>2</sup>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/oesophageal-carcinoma-1">oesophageal cancer</a> <sup>2</sup>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/oesophageal-perforation">oesophageal perforation</a> <sup>2</sup>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/meld-score">end-stage liver diseases</a> and varices <sup>2</sup>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>A correctly placed oesophageal temperature probe should:</p><ul>
- +<li>descend the midline, following the oesophageal path and avoiding the contours of the bronchi</li>
- +<li>clearly bisect the <a href="/articles/carina">carina</a> or bronchi</li>
- +<li>have its tip<ul>
- +<li>in the lower third of the oesophageal tract <sup>3</sup>
- +</li>
- +<li>at the mid-level of the heart</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +</ul><p>Malpositioning may include tip position:</p><ul>
- +<li>traversing either bronchus or more distally into the lung</li>
- +<li>coiling in the upper airway</li>