Core 5 cm beyond the anus with an electronic telethermometer rectum 2 cm with a mercury in glass thermometer axilla and between the skin and mattress. The target body temperature was set at 368c as recommended by.
Newborn Care 7 Temperature Control And Hypothermia
Measurement of core body temperature in preterm infants. Temperatures measured at the four sites agreed closely in this group of largely normothermic infants. The rectal temperature was considered the most accurate approximation of core body temperature the gold standard the same investigator measured the temporal artery temperature and axillary temperature of every infant. Foot temperature means ranged from 353c to 371c. Body temperature is commonly measured to confirm the presence or absence of fever. Transcutaneous thermometry is reliable for monitoring core body temperature as indicated by rectal temperature in stable preterm infants in a convective incubator. 11110344 indexed for medline mesh terms.
Core temperature is generally defined as the temperature measured within the pulmonary artery. Body temperatures of 99 term and 44 preterm infants were measured at four sites. What constitutes normal temperature in preterm and term infants is still unclear resulting in a wide range of temperatures being accepted as normal. However there remains considerable controversy regarding the most appropriate thermometer and the best anatomical site for temperature measurement. Hand temperature was very close to foot temperature in each infant with means ranging from 358c to 368c. Body temperatures of 99 term and 44 preterm infants were measured at four sites.
Infant prematurephysiology monitoring physiologicmethods. The shielded abdominal skin temperature is known to correlate with the core body temperature due to near zero heat flux 12 13. For this research we have used the world health organization who guidelines 1997 for temperature range which is between 365c and 375c. Transcutaneous temperature taken at a thermally insulated site in this instance the babys back insulated by a non conducting mattress represents core body temperature once the insulated skin warms to body temperature. Temperatures measured at the four sites agreed closely in this group of largely normothermic infants. An inadequate body temperature in preterm infants influences morbidity and mortality.
Mean daily abdominal temperatures for the four infants ranged from 351c to 369c. 45 our observations suggested that this equilibration took around seven minutes fig 1. A trained research nurse or neonatologist performed the rectal temperature measurements. Continuous rectal measurement is a reliable method to measure body temperature but might have adverse effects and is even contraindicated in case of low platelets or necrotising enterocolitis. Core 5 cm beyond the anus with an electronic telethermometer rectum 2 cm with a mercury in glass thermometer axilla and between the skin and mattress.
Gallery of Measurement Of Core Body Temperature In Preterm Infants
