Polyethylene skin wrapping accelerates recovery from hypothermia in very low-birthweight infants.

Background: Thermal management of the very low-birthweight (VLBW) infant is a cornerstone of neonatology because thermal stress is an important determinant of survival. This prospective study was designed to determine the effects of polyethylene occlusive skin wrapping on heat loss in VLBW infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) promptly after birth.

Methods: Thirty consecutively inborn infants weighing <1500 g were allocated to a wrap or non-wrap group within an incubator after admission to the NICU. Axillary and incubator temperatures were taken on arrival at 1 and 2 h.

Results: Infants in the wrap group reached a normal axillary temperature faster then non-wrap infants and required lower incubator temperatures.

Conclusions: Polyethylene film wrapping effectively helps to correct hypothermia in VLBW infants admitted to the NICU.