Effects of topical emollient therapy on infants at or less than 27 weeks' gestation.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of topical emollient therapy on fluid intake, urine output, serum electrolytes, glucose, bilirubin and other outcome measures of neonates < or = 27 weeks' gestational age (GA) with birthweight (BW) <1,000 g.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of 18 infants treated with topical emollient Aquaphor, and 36 BW- and GA-matched control infants that were not treated with similar topical emollient.

Results: Characteristics of the study and control infants were similar: BW: 698 +/- 144 g vs. 732 +/- 134 g, GA: 25.5 +/- 1.33 weeks vs. 25 +/- 1.6 weeks and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology (SNAP) 14.3 +/- 5.1 vs. 14.6 +/- 7.8, respectively. Fluid intake was lower and urine output was significantly better in Aquaphor-treated infants during the first two weeks of life. Peak serum potassium and bilirubin values were also lower in the study infants. Insulin use, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), inltraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sepsis and duration of ventilator/oxygen use weresimilar among the groups.

Conclusion: Infants < or = 27 weeks' gestation who had Aquaphor applied to their skin from birth required less fluids and had better urine output. These infants had lower serum potassium and bilirubin values during their first two weeks of life. Therefore, we conclude that topical Aquaphor application to thee skin is beneficial for fluid and electrolyte balance in extreme preterm infants.