Am J Perinatol 2013; 30(04): 317-322
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1324700
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Vinyl Bags versus Thermal Mattress to Prevent Hypothermia in Extremely Low-Gestational-Age Infants

Bobby Mathew
1   Department of Pediatrics, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
,
Satyan Lakshminrusimha
1   Department of Pediatrics, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
,
Shaon Sengupta
2   Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Vivien Carrion
1   Department of Pediatrics, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

01 February 2012

18 May 2012

Publication Date:
14 August 2012 (online)

Preview

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.