Double wall versus single wall incubator for reducing heat loss in very low birth weight infants in incubators

Abstract

Although it appears that caring for extremely small infants in double wall incubators may theoretically result in shorter hospitalization and may have metabolic advantages, this review was unable to find any data in the literature to support or refute this hypothesis. The studies do not provide any evidence that the small decrease in heat loss improves clinical outcome. Therefore, the available data is insufficient to directly guide clinical practice.

Neonatal thermal care: A discussion of two incubator modes for optimising thermoregulation. A care study

“…Heat can be lost in four different ways: conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. These are documented by many different authors including Laroia et al (2008), Ellis (2005), Mellien (2001), Martin and Kline (2004), Cinar and Filiz (2006), WHO (1997WHO ( , 2010 and McCall et al (2010). Heat is lost by conduction when the skin is in direct contact with a cooler surface; convection involves heat loss from the infant to cold air.…”

“…As brown fat does not continue to develop after delivery, preterm neonates remain at a disadvantage (Waldron and MacKinnon, 2007;Sherman et al, 2006). Laroia et al (2008) explain that newborns that are cared for in the appropriate temperature range have a stronger chance of surviving and this is supported by Sinclair (2002).…”

Role of effective thermoregulation in premature neonates

“…42 The authors of this Cochrane review did caution that no long-term benefits were seen in infant outcomes, mortality, or length of stay when double-wall incubators were used; however, the short-term benefits warrant their use if they are financially available.…”

A Simplification and Implementation of Random-effects Meta-analyses Based on the Exact Distribution of Cochran’s Q

“…• Incubators for reducing heat loss in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants [22]. In this meta-analysis, it was compared whether a single wall incubator leads to higher abdominal temperature when compared with a double wall incubator in VLBW infants.…”