Infant Journal
Browse articlesTemperature management: a guide to the latest equipment
It is vital that an infant’s thermoregulation is optimal and supported from birth. Normothermia is maintained in the range of 36.5° Celsius to 37° Celsius. The most important factors influencing the occurrence of hypothermia in newborn infants include the immediate separation of an infant from their mother after birth, the weight and gestational age of the infant and the place of delivery and environmental conditions. When an infant is transferred from the delivery suite to the neonatal unit, there need to be adequate warming procedures before and during transfer. If an infant suffers with asphyxia or hypoxia during birth, then cooling systems may be needed to induce hypothermia. With the help of incubators, heating or cooling systems, the appropriate temperature can be regulated for each infant according to their needs.
Available in the UK from Central Medical Supplies, the PR76 Kanmed Baby Warmer is clinically proven to help babies from 1,000g maintain their core temperature and achieve normothermia. It can offer non-incubator support to neonates at much lower birth weights, with similar outcomes to incubator care. A Cochrane report into cot-nursing versus incubator care for preterm infants concludes that cot-nursing using a heated mattress has similar effects to incubator care regarding temperature control and weight gain. The warmer is available with a choice of interchangeable mattresses. A water mattress is considered to provide the ultimate efficiency, while the gel option offers convenience. The control unit is easy to use, with a clear display that shows when the mattress has reached the selected temperature.
CMS is offering hospital trusts a free trial of the Kanmed Baby Warmer, along with product discounts.
GE Healthcare says its Giraffe Incubator Carestation combines innovative technology with exceptional thermal performance. The incubator promotes natural, peaceful healing, while fostering a close bond between families and their babies, allowing them to be present for every step of the journey.
With integrated features including the translating and rotating mattress, an elevating base and the removable in-bed scale, clinicians are offered the intuitive and reliable neonatal solution they need, while parents have the access and support they want, to promote optimal neurodevelopmental care.
The Weyer Thermocare KCE, supplied by Central Medical Supplies, is the result of decades of experience in warming. Its development is focused on the patient’s needs as well as user requirements and is a cost-conscious alternative when babies require surveillance in the intermediate care unit.
An actively heated gel pad supports stabilisation of the body temperature and, used in combination with the radiant heater, creates ideal conditions for a thermally neutral environment in open care. The bed allows optimum working conditions for the user. It can be tilted up or down with one hand, with the patient remaining central below the radiant warmer. All walls can be folded down with one hand and additional side walls maintain safety of the infant. Its drawers are accessible from all sides.
The portable CritiCool MINI delivers targeted patient temperature management in a compact package, leveraging similar technology to the CritiCool thermal regulating system. Battery-powered, lasting up to 60 minutes and only 11kg (24lb), the portability of the MINI makes it especially relevant in emergency, neonatal and intensive care situations. Simple and precise, the CritiCool MINI thermoregulation device pairs with the CureWrap single-use garment for advanced patient temperature management. It is available from Belmont Medical Technologies.
The device is quick and easy to set-up. Clinicians just have to set the desired temperature on the CritiCool MINI device, wrap the appropriately sized CureWrap garment around the patient, cool the patient to the set temperature and rewarm the patient through controlled, monitored rewarming.
Available from QED Scientific, the OKM730 resus warmer is designed to offer effective warming therapy for a newborn baby and provide all the components needed in the event of clinical emergency and resuscitation.
A radiant warmer for a newborn typically consists of a heat source, a skin temperature sensor, an automatic control unit, and both audible and visual alarms to notify healthcare staff of evaporative heat loss. The OKM730 resus warmer comes with safety features including failure and deviation alarms, which can be silenced while hands-free for safe infection control.
Other benefits include Neoport infant T-piece and air blender to aid newborn resuscitation, hands-free alarm silencing, optional touchscreen display controls with SpO2, electrical height and tilt adjustment and digital baby scale. It includes heater module and temperature deviation alarms, system failure alarms, an APGAR timer, 360° rotatable mattress, auto tilt zeroing and SpO2 saturated oxygen monitoring for patient safety.
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