Management of Hypothermia in Neonates with A Locally Made Resuscitation Trolley System

Abstract

Hypothermia is associated with large number of serious complications. We face a lot of problems while treating babies with preoperative and post operative hypothermia. Hypothermia is preventable if proper measures are taken. In our set up we do not have proper warming system in neonatology units. We managed   hypothermia successfully in neonates pre-operatively and post-operatively with the help of a locally made resuscitation trolley system designed and made by the authors. OBJECTIVES: To asses the outcome of   the neonates with preoperative and postoperative hypothermia a locally made resuscitation trolley system was used. DESIGN: Retrospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All neonates with hypothermia were shifted to the automatic resuscitation trolley system. A four hourly record of axillary temperature of all the babies under study was kept. The warmer rods were operated at 750 watts maximum till the surface temperature of the babies was normal. RESULTS: A total of 510 neonates were managed during the period from July 2005 to June 2007. Out of these 108 neonates suffered hypothermia during some phase of pre-operative period. Eighty seven hypothermic babies were managed post-operatively. Fifteen normothermic babies were also managed on this automatic system. All the neonates with hypothermia preoperative and post operative were managed successfully on this system. Of the fifteen normothermic neonates who were also managed on this resuscitation system, only two developed hypothermia of 1 degree C. CONCLUSION:  Proper warming system can prevent hypothermia in neonates and many lives can be saved.