Radiant warmers versus incubators for regulating body temperature in newborn infants.

BACKGROUND: This section is under preparation and will be included in the next issue.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of radiant warmers versus incubators (in the neonatal period) on fluid and electrolyte balance, neonatal morbidity and mortality.

SEARCH STRATEGY: The standard strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group was used. This includes searches of the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, Medline, previous reviews including cross references, abstracts, conference and symposia proceedings, expert informants, journal handsearching mainly in the English language.

SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised or quasi-randomised trials in which radiant warmers are compared to incubators in a neonatal population.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Methods used to collect data from the included studies: Each author extracted data separately, then compared and resolved differences. A referee was sought for unresolved differences. Methods used to synthesise the data : Standard method of Neonatal Review Group with the use of weighted mean difference for outcome data measured on a continuous scale.

MAIN RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in insensible water loss (IWL) was shown in neonates nursed under radiant warmers (WMD 0.94g/Kg/day, 95% CI 0.48, 1.41). A trend towards increased oxygen consumption which was not statistically significant was shown for the radiant warmer group (WMD 0. 27mL/kg/min, 95% CI -0.10, 0.63). A comparison of the radiant warmers with heat shields vs incubator without heat shields showed a similar trend for increased IWL in the radiant warmer group which was not statistically significant (WMD 1.00g/kg/day, 95% CI -0.10, 2. 10). No difference was shown in the rate of oxygen consumption when radiant warmers with heat shields were compared to incubators (WMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.84, 0.74).

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Radiant warmers result in increased IWL compared to incubators which needs to be taken into account when calculating daily fluid requirements.The results of this review do not provide sufficient evidence on important outcomes with the use of radiant warmers vs incubators to guide clinical practice. Further randomised controlled trials are required to assess the role of radiant warmers in neonatal care with particular attention to the extremely low birthweight population.