Incubator temperature control: effects on the very low birthweight infant.
(41/62)
We studied temperature stability in 22 infants of birthweight less than 1500 g in the first four days of life. Infants were nursed in incubators using either air mode control or skin temperature servo control. Data were collected continuously using a computer linked monitoring system. Skin temperature control resulted in a less stable thermal environment than air mode control. Increased thermal stability in the incubator on air mode control may well be beneficial, particularly to sick, very low birthweight infants. (+info)
Transportation of sick neonates, 1972: an unsatisfactory aspect of medical care.
(42/62)
An analysis of personnel and facilities used for transfer of sick newborn infants to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto during the months November 1971 and February to April 1972 showed many deficiencies. In many instances severely ill patients were accompanied by inadequately trained staff, transport incubators were either inadequate to maintain the babies' temperatures or were used inappropriately, resuscitation facilities were not available and oxygen concentrations could neither be measured nor varied as desired.Infants who weighed less than 1500 g. at birth and who died following transfer had significantly lower mean body temperatures on arrival at the referral hospital than those who survived. Mean transport incubator temperatures were too low in all groups of infants but were lower in those who died, although the difference was not statistically significant. (+info)
Hearing loss in very low birthweight infants treated with neonatal intensive care.
(43/62)
The hearing of 111 perinatal intensive care survivors of birthweights 1500 g or less was assessed at a mean age of 6 1/2 years (range 4--12). These 111 infants included 86% of the long-term survivors of this birthweight cared for in the newborn unit of University College Hospital, London, during the years 1966--72. All these infants were nursed in commercially available incubators for periods ranging from 2 to 80 days (mean 37) in which the mean noise threshold was 65 dB. Ten (9%) had sensory neural nearing losses, one (1%) infant had a congenital conductive hearing loss, and 21 (19%) infants had exudative otitis media with a mean loss of 25 dB. Apnoeic attacks in the neotal period were the most significant predictors of hearing loss in these infants (P less than 0.05) and an indirect serum filirubin level of at least 170 micromol/l (10 mg/100 ml) in the neonatal period had an additive effect (P less than 0.05). There was no evidence that ambient noise had affected the hearing of these very low birthweight infants. (+info)
Simple method for measuring oxygen consumption in babies.
(44/62)
A simple open-circuit method for measuring the rate of oxygen consumption in the neonatal nursery is described and preliminary results on 240 infants reported. The findings are consistent with previous studies using closed systems and artificial environments. The variation between one infant and another was great, which makes it difficult to predict for any one infant the thermal environment at which the rate of oxygen consumption will be minimal. (+info)
Thermoregulation in babies immediately after birth.
(45/62)
The fall in body temperature that occurs in babies soon after birth is influenced by the baby's weight and its environmental conditions. The rate of oxygen consumption 1 1/2 hours after birth was unrelated to body temperature and only slightly raised, indicating a limited thermogenic capacity. A radiant heater effectively prevented cooling in babies kept with their mothers in the delivery room. Washing soon after birth caused a significant cooling. Healthy term babies were found to have a limited thermogenic response to a cool environment over the first 12 hour of life and efforts to limit heat losses should be concentrated on this period. (+info)
Effect of phototherapy on thermal environment of the newborn.
(46/62)
Oxygen consumption was studied in 40 newborn babies undergoing phototherapy for hyperbilirubinaemia, both when enclosed within an incubator or nursed in an open cot. Exposure to phototherapy caused a rise in temperature at the mattress surface. This could result in overheating a baby nursed in an incubator, but by contrast is likely only partially to compensate for the loss of insulation of an unclothed baby in an open cot. (+info)
Heat shield reduces water loss.
(47/62)
A heat shield covered by polyvinyl chloride film greatly reduced insensible water loss and radiant energy requirements in 12 preterm infants on a radiant cradle. Measured transmittance of radiant energy emitted by the radiant heater was impeded minimally by various thin film plastics but was blocked significantly by Perspex. (+info)
Weight and water loss in the neonate in natural and forced convection.
(48/62)
We describe a simple method of determining weight loss and hence water loss of infants in incubators. Unlike previously reported methods, it does not interfere with the microenvironment surrounding the infant. Weight loss of 16 term and 32 preterm infants was measured in both forced and natural convection. No significant increase in water loss was observed in the term infants but in the preterm infants the mean loss in natural convection was 0.85 g/kg/hour compared with 1.26 g/kg/hour in forced convection: in the most extreme situation it was doubled. This water loss represents a substantial energy loss and suggestions to minimise it are discussed. (+info)