Abstract
The studies were carried out to investigate the effects of esophageal thermal tube for rewarming in the hypothermia in rabbits. Thiry-one rabbits were continuously cooled with femoral arterio-venous bypass circulation to 25.0${\pm}$0.3$^{\circ}C$(profound hypothermia) of rectal temperature. The experiment was consisted with 3 esophageal thermal tube groups perfused with circulation water at 38${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$(low, n=12), 42${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$(medium, n=12), and 45${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$(high, n=7). Esophageal thermla tube specially constructed double-lumen esophageal tube with circulating warm water at respective htermal grade. With this device, rewarming of the rabbits as follows; High-esophageal thermal tube group(45${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$)had a more effect on mean arterial pressure(MAP), heart rate(HR), esophageal temperature, and rectal temperature than others groups, but the circulation water at 45$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$ may cause thermal injuries in the esophagus because esophageal temperature increased to 41.1$^{\circ}C$. Medium-esophageal thermal tube group(42${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$) had a more effect on RR than others groups, but the circulation water at 42${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$ may also cause thermal injuries in the esophagus if the temperature exceeds 42$^{\circ}C$ for an extended period of time because its esophageal temperature increased to 39.4$^{\circ}C$. Low-esophageal thermal tube group(38${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$) had a more effect on MAP, RR, and esophageal temperature than others groups. In conclusion, rewarming of the central core in the treatment of profound hypothermia using the esophageal thermal tube perfused with circulation water at 38${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$ appears to be a ideal alternative safety zone of the temperature of circulation water avoiding thermal injury in esophagus causing by out of order or lower precise thermostat of water bath to that of others groups.