Body temperature measurement in VLBW infants by continuous skin measurement is a good or even better alternative than continuous rectal measurement.
BACKGROUND
An inadequate body temperature in preterm infants influences morbidity and mortality. Continuous rectal measurement is a reliable method to measure body temperature but might have adverse effects and is even contra-indicated in case of low platelets or necrotising enterocolitis. A save and non-invasive method to measure body temperature is the transcutaneous 'zero heat flow' method.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesised that for monitoring body temperature in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, central measurement of temperature by way of the zero heat flow principle is just as reliable as rectal temperature.


METHODS
Twenty-six infants, birth weight between 520 g and 1250 g, gestational age 25.28-32.28 weeks were provided with an insulated continuous skin probe with 'zero heat flow' and a continuous rectal probe. Both measurements were registered every hour over a period of 48 h. The sample size was calculated to detect a difference of less than or equal to 0.20 degrees C.


RESULTS
1205 of the 1248 temperature measurements were analysed. At any moment, skin temperature was higher or equal when compared to rectal temperature. Mean skin temperature was 0.13 degrees C (SD 0.33) higher than mean rectal temperature (t-test, p < 0.001). Correlation between rectal and skin temperature was 0.82 (p </= 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In VLBW infants, temperature measurement by 'zero heat flow' method is just as reliable as by rectal method.
van der Spek
R D G
RD
Princess Amalia Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Isala Clinics, Zwolle, The Netherlands. r.d.g.van.der.spek@isala.nl
van Lingen
R A
RA
van Zoeren-Grobben
D
D
D001831:Body Temperature; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D012007:Rectum; D012881:Skin Temperature