Effectiveness of a measure program to prevent admission hypothermia in very low-birth weight preterm infants

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of a thermoregulation bundle for preventing admission hypothermia in very low-birth weight preterm infants.

Methods

Interventional study with retrospective evaluation of data undertaken in a tertiary neonatal unit including all very low-birth weight preterm infants (<1500 g) born at and admitted to the unit. Two periods were compared: before intervention (PI; 01/01/2012 to 02/28/2014_ and after intervention (PII; 04/01/2014 to 11/30/2016). The intervention started in March 2014. At PI procedures in the delivery room were: placement in a crib with a radiant heat source, doors always closed, polyethylene body plastic bag, double cap (plastic and cotton mesh), room temperature between 24 to 27 °C and transport to neonatal unit in a pre-heated incubator (36–37.0 °C). At PII, there was a reinforcement on not opening the plastic bag during the entire resuscitation process, even at an advanced stage, and the anthropometric measures and routine care were performed in the neonatal unit. Maternal, delivery, and neonatal variables were compared. Admission hypothermia was considered when admission axillary temperature was <36.0 °C. Periodic results were shown to the team every six months and results were discussed.

Results

The incidence of admission hypothermia was reduced significantly in PII (37.2 vs. 14.2%, p < 0.0001) and admission temperature medians were higher (36.1 vs. 36.5 °C, p < 0.001). At PII, there was an increase in the number of infants transported with oxygen (49.5 vs. 75.5%, p < 0.0001). No differences were observed regarding birth weight and gestational age.

Conclusion

There was a very important reduction in admission hypothermia incidence and a higher median admission temperature after continued protocol implementation.