Abstract
Neonatal hypothermia is a worldwide problem and leads to increased morbidity and mortality
in newborn infants. This paper describes a program of research to examine thermoregulation in
premature infants and to decrease neonatal hypothermia. Our studies include 1) examining an
intervention to reduce heat loss in premature infants by placing them in polyurethane bags after
birth; 2) a descriptive study examining central and peripheral temperatures during the frst 12 hours
of age; 3) and a study examining central and peripheral temperatures over premature infants’ frst
two weeks of life. Currently we are using an esophageal tube with an imbedded thermistor (Philips
Healthcare) to display continuous central temperature in a randomized controlled trial to see if
this intervention will lead to warmer temperatures during the stabilization period than monitoring
temperatures intermittently using axillary temperatures and skin probes. Future research will include
expanding collaborative studies into low to moderate resource countries to help reduce infant
hypothermia and infant mortality.