Trial of Polythene Tobacco-Wrap in Prevention of Hypothermia in Neonates Less than 1500 Grams

Plastic wraps or bags, skin-to-skin care and transwarmer mattresses all keep preterm infants warmer, leading to higher temperatures on admission to neonatal units and less hypothermia. Given the low NNT, consideration should be given to using these interventions in the delivery suite. However, the small numbers of infants and studies and the absence of long term follow-up mean that firm recommendations for clinical practice cannot be given. There is a need to conduct large, high quality randomised controlled trials looking at long-term outcomes.

Interventions to prevent hypothermia at birth in preterm and/or low birthweight babies

McCall¹,

Alderdice²,

Halliday³

et al. 2005

Interventions to prevent hypothermia at birth in preterm and/or low birthweight infants

McCall

Alderdice

Halliday

et al. 2008

105

115

Plastic wraps or bags, skin-to-skin care and transwarmer mattresses all keep preterm infants warmer, leading to higher temperatures on admission to neonatal units and less hypothermia. Given the low NNT, consideration should be given to using these interventions in the delivery suite. However, the small numbers of infants and studies and the absence of long-term follow-up mean that firm recommendations for clinical practice cannot be given. There is a need to conduct large, high quality randomised controlled trials looking at long-term outcomes.

Interventions to prevent hypothermia at birth in preterm and/or low birthweight infants

McCall

Alderdice

Halliday

et al. 2010