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Cot-nursing versus incubator care for preterm infants.
1Neonatology, University of Queensland, Mater Mothers' Hospital, Raymond Tce, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. pgray@mater.org.au
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|January 22, 2003
Summary
Cot-nursing may improve temperature control in preterm infants compared to incubators. However, limited data means its role in infant care requires further research.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Infant thermoregulation
- Preterm infant management
Background:
- Optimal thermal environment is crucial for preterm infants.
- Incubators are standard, but cot-nursing is an alternative.
- Methods to maintain temperature in cots include extra bedding and heated mattresses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare temperature control and weight gain in preterm infants managed in cots versus incubators.
- To assess the effects of cot-nursing on preterm infant outcomes during the neonatal period.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review using Cochrane Neonatal Review Group search strategy.
- Included randomized or quasi-random trials comparing cot-nursing to incubator care.
- Meta-analysis using fixed effects model for temperature and weight gain.
Main Results:
- Cot-nursing showed significantly higher mean body temperature (0.30°C) compared to incubator care.
- A decrease in infants not breastfeeding at discharge was observed with cot-nursing (RR 0.52).
- No significant difference in weight gain was found overall, but one trial showed reduced weight gain with nursery warming.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence is limited by small trial numbers and imprecision.
- A clear role for cot-nursing in preterm infant care is not yet established.
- Further randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the benefits and risks of cot-nursing.