Hypothermia

OBJECTIVE: To test instrumentation and develop analytic models to use in a larger study to examine developmental trajectories of body temperature and peripheral perfusion from birth in extremely low-birth-weight (EBLW) infants.

DESIGN: A case study design.

SETTING: The study took place in a Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in North Carolina.

PARTICIPANTS: Four ELBW infants, fewer than 29 weeks gestational age at birth.

 Objective: To explore body temperature in relationship to heart rate in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants
during their first 12 hours to help identify the ideal set point for incubator control of body temperature.
Design: Within subject, multiple-case design.
Setting: A tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in North Carolina.
Participants: Ten infants born at fewer than 29 weeks gestation and weighing 400 to 1,000 g.

Extremely low-birthweight infants have inefficient thermoregulation due to immaturity and may exhibit cold body temperatures after birth and during their first 12 hours of life. Hypothermia in these infants can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Anecdotal notes made during our recent study revealed extremely low-birthweight infants’ temperatures decreased with caregiver procedures such as umbilical line insertion, intubations, obtaining chest x-rays, manipulating intravenous lines, repositioning, suctioning, and taking vital signs during the first 12 hours of life.