Heat Loss Prevention (Help) After Birth in Preterm Infants Using Vinyl Isolation Bag or Polyethylene Wrap

Abstract

To examine the effects of using vinyl isolation bags or polyethylene wrap for the prevention of postnatal hypothermia in preterm infants at ≤ 32 weeks gestation. A prospective, randomized controlled trial. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in Turkey. Fifty-nine preterm infants. Participants were randomly assigned to either the vinyl isolation-bag experimental group (n = 22) or the polyethylene-wrap control group (n = 37). Infant body temperature was measured at four time points after birth. Loss of body temperature was significantly less in the vinyl isolation-bag group during the first 60 minutes after birth (p = .041). Body temperature decreased by 1.41 ± 1.65 °C in the vinyl isolation-bag group and 2.75 ± 1.68 °C in the polyethylene wrap group. Body temperature was significantly less in the polyethylene wrap group compared to the vinyl isolation-bag group at birth to 60 minutes (p = .004). Wrapping preterm infants of gestational age ≤ 32 weeks in vinyl bags immediately after birth is associated with lower incidences of hypothermia.