Heat losses from babies in incubators.

Abstract

Simple methods by which the thermal environment provided by an incubator can be measured and analyzed into conductive, convective, radiant, and evaporative components were developed and applied to 2 commercial incubators working on different principles. Radiant heat losses were considerable unless room temperature was unusually high. A naked newborn premature infant placed in such an incubator with the air at 34[degree]C. (93[degree]F.) will need to increase its O2 consumption 25% above the basal level to maintain its body temperature at 37[degree]C. if the room temperature is 20[degree]C. (68[degree]F.). The clinical significance of these findings is discussed and various methods of reducing or compensating for these losses are suggested.[long dash]From auth. sum.