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Efficacy of an automated, temperature-controlled underbody water blanket for preventing perioperative hypothermia in neonatal intensive care unit surgical patients

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 675–677 (2023)Cite this article

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Intraoperative hypothermia can result in complications during and after surgery. Neonates are especially vulnerable because of their high surface-area-to-weight ratio, reduced subcutaneous fat, heat loss from head and trunk, anesthetic-induced blood volume redistribution toward peripheral tissues, and poor thermoregulation [1]. Despite this vulnerability, up to 83% of the neonatal population experiences perioperative hypothermia [1]. The World Health Organization defines neonatal hypothermia as a core temperature of <36.5 °C [2].

Normothermia is maintained through increased ambient room temperature, active warming with overhead heating units, blankets and hats, warm fluids, chemical heating pads, and active warming with forced-air or water. Forced-air warmers, while commonly used, have limitations in neonates. Alternatively, underbody water blankets with automated temperature control may provide advantages for preventing hypothermia but, to our knowledge, have never been studied as the primary active warming device during neonatal surgery. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of an automated underbody water blanket as an active warming method for preventing perioperative hypothermia in neonates and premature infants.

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Data availability

The dataset generated and analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Walter Orr, MPH, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, for technical writing support and manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA

    Kelsey N. Harder, Nicole R. Ost, Niaman Nazir & Jennifer K. Hansen

Authors
  1. Kelsey N. Harder
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  2. Nicole R. Ost
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  3. Niaman Nazir
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  4. Jennifer K. Hansen
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Contributions

KNH was responsible for writing the study protocol, extracting data, interpreting results, writing the manuscript, and updating the reference list. NRO was responsible for extracting data, providing feedback on the results and updating the reference list. NN was responsible for statistical data analysis, interpreting results, and creating the summary tables. JKH was responsible for writing the study protocol, interpreting results, writing the manuscript, updating the reference list, and providing guidance based on clinical work before and during the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer K. Hansen.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Harder, K.N., Ost, N.R., Nazir, N. et al. Efficacy of an automated, temperature-controlled underbody water blanket for preventing perioperative hypothermia in neonatal intensive care unit surgical patients. J Perinatol 43, 675–677 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01465-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01465-8

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