Total body polyethylene wraps for preventing hypothermia in preterm infants: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether a polyethylene total body wrapping (covering both the body and head) is more effective than conventional treatment (covering up to the shoulders) in reducing perinatal thermal losses in very preterm infants.


METHODS
This was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel 1:1, unblinded, controlled trial of infants<29 weeks' gestation age, comprising two study groups: experimental group (total body group; both the body and head covered with a polyethylene occlusive bag, with the face uncovered) and control group (only the body, up to the shoulders, covered with a polyethylene occlusive bag). The primary outcome was axillary temperature on neonatal intensive care unit admission immediately after wrap removal.


RESULTS
One hundred randomly allocated infants (50 in the total body group and 50 controls) completed the study. Mean axillary temperature on neonatal intensive care unit admission was similar in the two groups (36.5±0.6°C total body vs 36.4±0.8°C controls; P=.53). The rate of moderate hypothermia (temperature<36°C) was 12% in the total body group and 20% in the control group (P=.41). Three subjects in each group (6.0%) had an axillary temperature>37.5°C on admission, and one subject in control group had an axillary temperature>38°C.


CONCLUSIONS
Total body wrapping is comparable with covering the body up to the shoulders in preventing postnatal thermal losses in very preterm infants.
Department of Women and Children Health, School of Medicine, Padua University, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padua, Italy.
Nicoletta
N
Doglioni
Independent Statistician, Padua, Italy.
Francesco
F
Cavallin
Department of Women and Children Health, School of Medicine, Padua University, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padua, Italy.
Veronica
V
Mardegan
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Camposampiero Hospital, Camposampiero, Italy.
Silvia
S
Palatron
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Camposampiero Hospital, Camposampiero, Italy.
Marco
M
Filippone
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
Luca
L
Vecchiato
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy.
Massimo
M
Bellettato
Department of Women and Children Health, School of Medicine, Padua University, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padua, Italy.
Lino
L
Chiandetti
Department of Women and Children Health, School of Medicine, Padua University, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padua, Italy. Electronic address: trevo@pediatria.unipd.it.
Daniele
D
Trevisanuto
D001458:Bandages; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D020959:Polyethylene; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017694:Rewarming / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020959:Polyethylene