Abstract
11 sick neonates (weighing 1150 - 2280g) have been studied during transport from sub-zero temperatures (0 to -34°C) in a radiant heat source incubator. This unit has been evaluated ‘in vitro’; our referral centre provided unique opportunities for clinical observation under extreme conditions. One observer monitored the infant's condition, core, skin and incubator air temperatures (4cm below the hood). Environmental temp. and wind speed were obtained. The radiant heater, in a curved transparent canopy generated heat at peak wave length of 8.7 micron over 180C of the infant's surface, servo-controlled from a skin thermistor. Core temperature never fell, and rose to normal in all (6) infants who were hypothermic (mean rise >0.5°C/hour for 3 hours) The greatest fall in skin temperature was <0.75°C (after 10 minutes unavoidable delay at -21°C with the heater control accidentally lowered to 35°C while unloading). Considerable flux in air temperature within the incubator occurred between periods of warmer activity. Once, a broken connection in the servo-control thermistor rendered the heating unit temporarily inoperable. Radiant heat can provide a stable thermal environment under adverse conditions; but data suggest an emergency manual override of thermistor control is mandatory and that heater controls should ‘lock’. Also, the optimum rate of rewarming after hypothermia, and the effects of a marked flux in air temperature must be established for small infants during radiant warming.
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