Experiences with Thermal Monitoring, Influence of Neonatal Care and how should it be Monitored

Abstract

For the last 10 years we have had experience of thermal monitoring using a computerised cot monitoring system [1–6]. This monitoring system has been crucial in developing our own understanding of the problems of thermal monitoring and has also given us certain insights about the management of the thermal environment of very low birthweight infants suggesting ways of reducing thermal stress in such babies. This paper will review some of the insights we have gained. We will assume that it is accepted that the improper management of the thermal environment of very low birthweight or extremely low birthweight infants will increase morbidity and possibly mortality as shown many years ago [7–10]. It is likely that any infant who has thermal control mechanisms (i.e. is not functioning as a poikilotherm) will utilise energy to maintain its body temperature if stressed by an environmental temperature outside the neutral thermal range. Such energy is utilised at the expense of growth and the smaller the infant the more critical growth is for the infant’s survival.