Thermal responses of the newborn pig: In vivo comparison of two prototype hybrid systems to standard care neonatal warming

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lindemann, Rolf^; | Hubert, Terrence L. | Wu, Jichuan | Agnew, Catherine | Shaffer, ^{; ;} | Wolfson, Marla R.^{; ; ;}

Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway | Departments of Physiology, Temple University, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Department of Pediatrics, Temple University, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Department of Medicine, Temple University, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Temple Lung Center, Temple University, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Nemours Lung Research Center, AI du Pont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Marla R. Wolfson, MS, PhD., Temple University, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, 3420 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Tel.: +1 215 707 4573; Fax: +1 215 707 4003; E-mail: marla.wolfson@temple.edu

Abstract: Objective: Underdeveloped thermoregulatory capability predisposes the preterm infant to metabolic instability. An ideal incubator environment should reduce thermal challenges of routine care. We compared the thermal responses of the newborn pig to clinical manipulations in 2 incubators and the impact of a heating blanket on these responses. Design: Anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated newborn pigs were randomized to pre-warmed Caleo® or Giraffe® Omnibed®, with or without a heating blanket, and subjected to warmup and a series of open door perturbations. The temperature variation, time constant, and change in skin temperature were calculated and analyzed by 2-factor analysis of variance. Results: There were no differences between the incubators during warm-up; incubator plus heating blanket decreased the time constant, independent of device. With the side access door open, the change in skin temperature was less in the Caleo®; the heating blanket attenuated the change in skin temperature in both devices. Conclusion: These data demonstrate device and clinical manipulation-dependent differences in the thermal responses of the newborn pig.

Keywords: Newborn pig, incubator, thermal responses, Caleo®, Giraffe Omnibed®

DOI: 10.3233/NPM-2010-0130

Journal: Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 307-315, 2010