ИСТИНА

Introduction The value of cerebral temperature direct measurement in neurosurgical patients is specified. One of the unresolved issues is the described temperature gradient between cerebral and core temperature. The aim of the study was to assess the gradient and correlation of central and cerebral temperature in patients with a neurosurgical profile. Materials and methods Eight patients with acute brain injury, signs of cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension were studied. Brain temperature was monitored using combined ICP/temperature probe (Raumedic AG, Helmbrechts, Germany), core temperature was monitored using indwelling urinary catheter with a temperature probe (Smiths Medical, Minneapolis, US). All data were stored using the ICM+ software (Cambridge, UK). Statistical analyses were done using Statistica 10.0 (StatSoft, Tulsa, USA). Data are presented as median and range of minimal and maximal value. The correlation between brain and core temperature was assessed by computing an estimated mean correlation coefficient. Results: The brain temperature (median 38.3ºC; range, 32.0–40.88) was 0.2ºC (range, -3.13– 1.31) higher than the core temperature (median 38.1ºC; range, 34.1–40.3), P<0.05. The mean Pearson correlation between core and brain temperature in all patients was r=0.97 (P<0.05). Conclusion The brain temperature is generally higher than the core temperature, but with the development of critical hypoperfusion or during therapeutic hypothermia, negative gradients can develop.