title: Transferring preterm infants from incubators to open cots at 1600 g: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects on weight gain and temperature control of transferring preterm infants from incubators to open cots at a weight of 1600 g versus a weight of 1800 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  One tertiary and two regional neonatal units in public hospitals in Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  182 preterm infants born with a birth weight less than 1600 g, who were at least 48 h old; had not required ventilation or continuous positive airways pressure within the last 48 h; were medically stable with no oxygen requirement, or significant apnoea or bradycardia; did not require phototherapy; and were enterally fed with an intake (breast milk/formula) of at least 60 ml/kg/day.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transfer into an open cot at 1600 or 1800 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcomes were temperature stability and average daily weight gain over the first 14 days following transfer to an open cot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  90 infants in the 1600 g group and 92 infants in the 1800 g group were included in the analysis. Over the first 72 h, more infants in the 1800 g group had temperatures <36.4°C than the 1600 g group (p=0.03). From post-transfer to discharge, the 1600 g group had more temperatures >37.1°C (p=0.02). Average daily weight gain in the 1600 g group was 17.07 (SD±4.5) g/kg/day and in the 1800 g group, 13.97 (SD±4.7) g/kg/day (p=<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medically stable, preterm infants can be transferred to open cots at a birth weight of 1600 g without any significant adverse effects on temperature stability or weight gain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN12606000518561 (http://www.anzctr.org.au).
authors.affiliation: Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, Brisbane 4029, Australia. k.new@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: New
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bogossian
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: East
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D015370:Infant Equipment; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D010360:Patient Transfer; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology