Abstract
Background and Aims: Thermoregulation can be problematic during transport, but is essential to avoid cold or heat stress. Previously only 60% of transported infants were normothermic1. The national neonatal audit programme (NNAP) specifies standards for admission temperature2.
We aimed to assess the proportion of infants completing transport with temperature within normal limits compared to NNAP standards. Secondary analysis would elicit factors implicated in abnormal temperature.
Methods: Temperature data was collected during transfer for infants utilising the CenTre Neonatal Transport Service. Demographic and other relevant details were recorded. We analysed transports between 19/4/10 to 20/3/11 excluding transfers for therapeutic hypothermia.
Results: 1089 infants were assessed, of which 1005 (92%) had an acceptable temperature at transport completion. 896 (82.5%) had satisfactory thermal control throughout transport. 37 infants were hypothermic and 198 babies were hyperthermic during transport. We identified a number of factors associated with temperature instability (see Table).
Conclusions: Most transported infants have acceptable temperatures. Hypothermia rates are low; hyperthermia is a greater problem for infants not maintaining normothermia.
We observed an increased tendency for temperature instability at night.
Article PDF
References
Leslie AJ, Stephenson TJ, Audit of neonatal intensive care transport - closing the loop. Acta Paediatrica, 1997 Nov; 86( 11): 1253–6.
Neonatal Audit Project: http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/Research/ce/Clinical-Audit/NNAP.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Behrsin, J., Leslie, A. & Wynn-Davies, A. Thermoregulation of Transported Neonates has Improved but Night-Time Transfers are Associated with More Temperature Instability. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 616 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.841
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.841