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Published on: December 31, 2015
Application of plastic wrap to improve temperatures in infants born less than 30 weeks gestation: a randomized
Jacqueline Smith1, Kim Usher, Gary Alcock
1HDipNeoIntCare, Townsville Hospital in Australia, Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia. jackiesmith3@me.com
Purpose:
The primary aim of the study was to evaluate whether the application of a plastic wrap immediately after birth is more effective than the standard care of temperature management for improving admission temperatures to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in infants <30 weeks gestation.
Design:
A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Infants in the intervention group were transferred to a prewarmed radiant heater immediately after birth and encased in NeoWrap from the neck down without being dried. The infant's head was dried with a prewarmed towel and a hat added. The control group received usual care for the unit; the infant was transferred to the prewarmed radiant warmer and dried, and warm towels and a hat are then applied.
Sample:
A total of 92 infants were analyzed: 49 in the control group and 43 in the intervention group; 48 (52.2 percent) were <27 weeks gestation, and 44 (47.8 percent) were <30 weeks gestation. The infants' temperatures were assessed for two hours following admission.
