title: A mean body temperature of 37°C for incubated preterm infants is associated with lower energy costs in the first 11 days of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This randomised trial compared the energy costs of providing incubated preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation with homeothermia using either air temperature control (ATC) or skin servocontrol (SSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 38 incubated preterm infants for the first 11 days of life, calculating the frequency of hypothermia (<36.0°C), hyperthermia (>37.5°C) and thermal challenge, together with energy costs, based on a change in incubator air temperature of 2°C above or below thermoneutrality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The daily mean incubator air temperature was higher in ATC than SSC (p < 0.05) for the first 6 days, and the mean body temperature was higher in ATC (37.0 ± 0.03°C) than SSC (36.8 ± 0.02; p < 0.01) over the whole study period. The frequency of moderate hyperthermia was higher in ATC (p < 0.001), whereas warm and cold thermal challenges were higher in SSC (p < 0.001). The two groups did not differ in terms of energy costs. The time to recover birthweight was shorter in ATC (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In incubators using ATC, a body temperature of 37°C was associated with lower energy costs and greater weight gain at 11 days of life for preterm infants. Future studies should test SSC shielded abdominal skin temperature set to 37°C.
authors: Réanimation et Soins Continus Pédiatriques, CHU Amiens, Amiens, France.|PériTox (UMR_I 01), UFR de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Degorre
authors: PériTox (UMR_I 01), UFR de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Décima
authors: Réanimation et Soins Continus Pédiatriques, CHU Amiens, Amiens, France.|PériTox (UMR_I 01), UFR de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Dégrugilliers
authors: Réanimation et Soins Continus Pédiatriques, CHU Amiens, Amiens, France.|PériTox (UMR_I 01), UFR de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ghyselen
authors: PériTox (UMR_I 01), UFR de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Bach
authors: PériTox (UMR_I 01), UFR de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Libert
authors: Réanimation et Soins Continus Pédiatriques, CHU Amiens, Amiens, France.|PériTox (UMR_I 01), UFR de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Tourneux
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D012881:Skin Temperature
keywords: Hyperthermia; Hypothermia; Incubator; Metabolism; Preterm Infants