Polythene Wrap versus Routine Care On Temperature Regulation for Preterm And Low Birth Weight Babies during Transport from Delivery Room to NICU- An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial

Dr. Manchu Polayya

Volume : VIII, Issue : XII, December - 2018

Polythene Wrap versus Routine Care On Temperature Regulation for Preterm And Low Birth Weight Babies during Transport from Delivery Room to NICU- An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial

Dr. Manchu Polayya

Abstract :

Background and Objectives: Maintaining a normal body temperature is a critical function for newborn survival. The body temperature of premature infants drops suddenly after birth because of their disproportionate body mass–to–surface ratio, exposed body posture, decreased amounts of subcutaneous fat, poor vasomotor control, and thin skin with increased permeability. This study is to compare the effectiveness of polythene wrap in thermoregulation of preterm and low birth weight babies compared to routine care duringtransport from delivery room to NICU. Methodology: This study was conducted from August 2015 to June 2016 at Labour room, OT and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, GEMS and Hospital, Ragolu, Srikakulam in Infants born at 29 to 37 weeks gestation at birth and low birth weight neonates (birth weight below 2500 g). Total of 90preterm babies were included in the study and randomly allocated into two groups. Babies in one group were wrapped with polythene wrap (B) in addition to standard care. Babies in the control group received standard thermoregulation (A).Axillary temperature were recorded before wrapping the neonate and at the time of NICU admission. Results: The mean temperature of babies with polythene wrap (36.13°C±0.6190°C) was significantly higher than the mean temperature of babies with standard thermoregulation (35.65°C±0.5795°C). The mean admission temperature was 0.48° C higher in the babies with polyethylene wrap. In babies with gestation of 32–36 weeks the mean admission temperature in the polyethylene wrap group (36.16°C) was significantly higher than the control group (35.61°C). The mean temperature of babies with polythene wrap (35.79°C± 0.6713°C) and those babies with standard thermoregulation (35.94°C± 0.5900°C) were almost similar after resuscitation. At admission to NICU 17 %( 08/45) babies in polythene wrap were hypothermic while in the control group 71.1 %( 32/45) babies were hypothermic, a difference which was statistically significant. Conclusions: The average mean temperature at admission to NICU was higher in preterm neonates 29– 36 weeks wrapped with polythene wrap in addition to standard care than the neonates receiving standard care alone. The use of polythene wrap reduced the incidence of hypothermia in preterm neonates. Use of polythene wrap is a safe, economical and easy method to prevent hypothermia during transfer of newborns from delivery room to the NICU.