title: Thermal effects of hooding incubators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of covering infant incubators on incubator wall and air temperatures, as well as on infant temperatures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A within-subject ABA design, in which blankets covering the incubators were removed for a 30-minute period and then replaced.
  
  
  METHODS
  A neonatal intensive-care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight medically stable infants (gestational age, 28-33 weeks; birth weight, 913-1,947 g; and postnatal age, 2-39 days).
  
  
  METHODS
  Incubator wall and air temperatures as well as infant temperatures were measured during three study conditions: incubators covered (30 minutes), uncovered (60 minutes), and re-covered (30 minutes).
  
  
  METHODS
  Incubator air and wall temperature; infant temperature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All incubator walls decreased in temperature after being uncovered; the decrease ranged from 0.6-2.2 degrees C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although infants maintained relatively stable body temperatures during the uncovered period, the energy cost to their thermoregulatory efforts is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Swedish Hospital Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing; D013696:Temperature