Abstract
We measured metabolic heat production (M) and body heat loss (HL) of 8 AGA premature infants by indirect calorimetry in a double-walled incubator (Air-Shields) with (DW) and without (SW) the inner wall. The infants had birth weights of 1.47-1.89 kg; they were 6-19 days old. Each infant was studied in SW and DW on the same day with incubator servocontrolled to maintain abdominal skin temperature at 36.5°C. After thermal equilibration, oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), and insensible water loss (IWL) were measured continuously for 1.5-2.5 hours in each incubator. Temperatures (T) were recorded every 15 min at 18 sites (4 body, 14 environmental). M and HL were calculated and HL partitioned into evaporation (E), radiation (R), and the sum (C) of convection and conduction. Air T was lower in the DW, 33.8 vs 34.8°C; mean wall T was higher in the DW, 32.3 vs 31.7°C. Operative environmental T was 32.9°C in both incubators. The means are shown below, VO2 and VCO2 in ml/(kg-min), IWL in ml/(kg.h), and M, HL, E, R, C in kcal/(kg.h): (*P<0.05, paired t)
With SW and DW both servocontrolled to keep abdominal skin T constant, there were no significant differences in VO2, IWL or total HL. The only difference was in the partition of heat loss, with DW reducing loss by R in exchange for increased loss by C.
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Bell, E., Rios, G. & Erenberg, A. 1244 EFFECTS OF A DOUBLE-WALLED INCUBATOR ON THE PARTITION OF BODY HEAT LOSS OF PREMATURE INFANTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 650 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01271
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01271