Decreasing hypothermia during delivery room stabilization of preterm neonates.

Background And Objective: Hypothermia during delivery room stabilization of very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns is independently associated with mortality, yet it occurred frequently both in collaborative networks and at our institution. We aimed to attain admission temperatures in the target range of 36 °C to 38 °C in ≥ 90% of inborn VLBW neonates through implementation of a thermoregulation bundle.

Methods: This quality improvement project extended over 60 consecutive months, using sequential plan-do-check-act cycles.

Use of chemical warming packs during delivery room resuscitation is associated with decreased rates of hypothermia in very low-birth-weight neonates.

Background: : Hypothermia is an independent contributor to neonatal mortality. All very low-birth-weight (VLBW) newborns have the potential to undergo cold stress or frank hypothermia during delivery room stabilization. Thus, clinicians aiming to maintain normothermia in VLBW neonates are compelled to use multiple adjuncts of unknown efficacy or safety.