Hypothermia in the Low Birth Weight Premature Infant
Hypothermia in the Low Birth Weight Premature Infant
The search strategy used to generate information for review on occlusive skin wrap use and heat conservation in the delivery room encompassed nursing and medical research literature from the years 1999–2011. The electronic databases searched were Scopus, Medline (PubMed), Cinahl and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. In addition, reference lists of relevant published studies were examined as well as a hand search of neonatal and pediatric textbooks and journals. Key search words included the terms hypothermia, neonate, skin wrap, preterm/premature/ELBW/VLBW neonate, hyperthermia, polyethylene/occlusive skin wrap, plastic blanket, insensible water loss, heat loss prevention and thermoregulation. Search terms were combined to expand the search and improve the yield. Studies were limited to the English language.
Eleven experimental or quasi-experimental studies evaluating occlusive skin wraps as a barrier to heat loss were identified using the search terms listed (Table 1). Three retrospective observational studies (ROS) and four randomized control trials (RCTs) compared the use of occlusive skin wrap only to conventional delivery room thermoregulation. Two RCTs and 2 ROS were included which compared the use of occlusive skin wrap with other thermal protective strategies such as plastic caps, increased ambient operating room temperature, and exothermic mattresses. Four studies were performed in the United States, two were performed in Australia, and single studies were completed in Canada, England, Italy, Malaysia, and Nova Scotia. Additional studies were performed in the 1970's and 1980's with occlusive skin wrap and insensible water loss prevention, but none focused on immediate delivery room thermo-conservation, and were thus excluded from this review.
Evidence Retrieval
The search strategy used to generate information for review on occlusive skin wrap use and heat conservation in the delivery room encompassed nursing and medical research literature from the years 1999–2011. The electronic databases searched were Scopus, Medline (PubMed), Cinahl and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. In addition, reference lists of relevant published studies were examined as well as a hand search of neonatal and pediatric textbooks and journals. Key search words included the terms hypothermia, neonate, skin wrap, preterm/premature/ELBW/VLBW neonate, hyperthermia, polyethylene/occlusive skin wrap, plastic blanket, insensible water loss, heat loss prevention and thermoregulation. Search terms were combined to expand the search and improve the yield. Studies were limited to the English language.
Eleven experimental or quasi-experimental studies evaluating occlusive skin wraps as a barrier to heat loss were identified using the search terms listed (Table 1). Three retrospective observational studies (ROS) and four randomized control trials (RCTs) compared the use of occlusive skin wrap only to conventional delivery room thermoregulation. Two RCTs and 2 ROS were included which compared the use of occlusive skin wrap with other thermal protective strategies such as plastic caps, increased ambient operating room temperature, and exothermic mattresses. Four studies were performed in the United States, two were performed in Australia, and single studies were completed in Canada, England, Italy, Malaysia, and Nova Scotia. Additional studies were performed in the 1970's and 1980's with occlusive skin wrap and insensible water loss prevention, but none focused on immediate delivery room thermo-conservation, and were thus excluded from this review.
