Preventing Hypothermia in Preterm Infants: A Program of Research
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.
Keywords: neonatal hypothermia, thermoregulation, infant body temperature regulation
Conclusion
Infant hypothermia remains prevalent, especially in
premature infants, in the United States and throughout
the developing world. My program of research
aims to reduce hypothermia in infants and decrease
associated morbidity and mortality. Our team has
successfully reduced heat loss and hypothermia placing
premature infants in polyurethane bags after birth
and is now studying a new device, the InnerSense
esophageal tube to monitor central temperature continuously
after birth and through stabilization. Additionally,
we have found links between alterations
in central and peripheral temperature and morbidity
in premature infants in their frst two weeks of life.
There is much more research to be done to improve
thermal management in infants. Our future endeavors
will translate our expertise in thermal management
of infants to developing and low to middle income
countries to improve infant outcomes.