Abstract
Objective To compare the efficacy of vinyl bags and thermal warming mattresses in preventing
hypothermia during delivery room resuscitation and stabilization of extremely low-gestational-age
neonates (ELGANs).
Study Design Preterm infants 23 to 28 weeks' gestational age were randomly allocated to either
vinyl bag or thermal mattress group at delivery to prevent hypothermia. The primary
outcome of the study was the axillary temperature on admission to the neonatal intensive
care unit.
Results A total of 41 infants were enrolled in the study. The mean admission temperature
in the vinyl bag group was 36.1°C ± 0.7°C as compared with 35.8°C ± 1.3°C in the thermal
mattress group. The subgroup of these infants with lower birth weight (<750 g) had
significantly higher admission temperature with vinyl bags (36°C ± 0.4°C) compared
with thermal mattress (35°C ± 1.3°C).
Conclusion Vinyl bags and warming mattress are equally effective in improving admission temperature
in ELGANs. Improvements in other areas such as delivery room temperature may be needed
to achieve the goal of preventing hypothermia in this vulnerable population.
Keywords
hypothermia - prematurity - vinyl bags - warming mattress
