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Thermal management for premature births
Sandie Bredemeyer1, Shelley Reid, Michele Wallace
1Clinical Nurse Consultant and Clinical Lecturer, Faculty of Nursing, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. sandie@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|November 5, 2005
Summary
Occlusive polyethylene wrap improved admission temperatures for extremely premature infants under 27 weeks gestation, reducing hypothermia. However, monitor for potential hyperthermia post-intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric critical care
- Thermoregulation in neonates
Background:
- Premature infants are susceptible to heat loss.
- Occlusive polyethylene wrap minimizes evaporative and convective heat loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To audit the effect of immediate occlusive polyethylene wrap application on admission temperatures of extremely premature infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective and prospective audits were conducted.
- Intervention group infants were wrapped immediately after birth, without drying.
- Control group infants were dried and resuscitated under radiant heat.
Main Results:
- Higher admission temperatures were observed in infants <27 weeks gestation (P<0.01).
- Hypothermia rates decreased in the intervention group (P=0.02).
- Increased incidence of hyperthermia was noted in the intervention group within 12 hours (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Occlusive polyethylene wrap is effective in improving admission temperatures for infants <27 weeks gestation.
- The intervention is simple and does not impede resuscitation.
- Consider wrap removal in neonatal intensive care unit to prevent hyperthermia.