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Updated: Oct 15, 2026

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
06:27

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates

Published on: December 31, 2015

Skin-to-skin contact improves gas exchange in premature infants

K Föhe1, S Kropf, S Avenarius

  • 1Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg, Germany.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|August 2, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Skin-to-skin contact (kangarooing) stabilizes preterm infants, improving heart rate, respiratory rate, and gas exchange. This method is safe, preventing hypothermia even in very low birth weight infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Physiology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Skin-to-skin contact, or kangarooing, is a recognized method for improving intensive care for premature infants.
  • Further investigation into its specific effects on physiological parameters is warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of skin-to-skin contact on key physiological parameters in preterm infants.
  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of kangarooing in maintaining thermal stability.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, pretest-test-posttest study involving 53 preterm infants (< 1800 gm).
  • Measurements included heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation (SaO2), transcutaneous pO2 (tcpO2), transcutaneous pCO2, rectal temperature, and fraction of inspired oxygen.
  • Infants underwent periods of incubator care and skin-to-skin contact.

Main Results:

  • Skin-to-skin contact led to a significant increase in heart rate (+5 bpm) and rectal temperature (+0.3°C), and a significant decrease in respiratory rate (-5/min).
  • Oxygen saturation (SaO2) improved (+0.4%), with significant increases in transcutaneous pO2 (tcpO2, +4.8 mm Hg) and decreases in transcutaneous pCO2 (tcpCO2, -1.2 mm Hg).
  • Infants < 1000 gm showed the most pronounced respiratory and gas exchange improvements, with no risk of hypothermia.

Conclusions:

  • Skin-to-skin contact promotes clinical stability and more efficient gas exchange in preterm infants.
  • Kangarooing is a safe method for preterm infants, including those < 1000 gm, as it prevents hypothermia despite removal from the incubator.
Abstract

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