Preterm Infant in Incubators: Automated Thermal Control Improved Weight Growth and Decreased Morbidity
Preterm Infant in Incubators: Automated Thermal Control Improved Weight Growth and Decreased Morbidity
Previous studies have shown that mortality and morbidity in preterm neonates are correlated
 with the fall in body temperature on admission. That can be decreased by reducing body heat
 losses to the environment. A software to assess the optimal thermal neutral range taking into
 account all the neonate's heat losses in closed incubators has been designed by a
 multidisciplinary research team. The principle is to calculate the body heat loss (BHL) of
 each individual preterm infant, and to propose a specific air temperature setting inside the
 incubator to reduce BHL to zero. This software is now available for clinical practice in the
 INOTHERM incubator (Mediprema, France). This study aims to compare the energy costs of
 providing incubated preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation with homeotherm using
 either BHL air control (BHL) or air temperature control (ATC) or skin servocontrol (SSC).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  preterm infant born before 32 weeks of gestation

 -  preterm infant included in the study before 12 hours of life

 -  preterm infant nursed in an INOTHERM incubator

 -  written informed consent from his parents

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  newborn infant with polymalformative syndrome

 -  life threatening events or serious heart disease