1. The impact of temperature on neonatal resuscitation and temperature maintenance strategies
C0009 NRP® Current Issues Seminar: Monumental Changes on the Horizon
Henry C. Lee, MD, FAAP
Stanford University School of Medicine
(Palo Alto, CA)
@hcleestanford

2. Faculty Disclosure Information
In the past 12 months, I have no relevant financial relationships with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in this CME activity. I do not intend to discuss an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device in my presentation.

3. Outline
Physiology and relationship of hypothermia to preterm neonatal outcomes
Practices to prevent hypothermia in preterm neonates
Implications for research and clinical practice

4. Physiology of thermal regulation in neonates
Evaporation
Convection
Radiation
Conduction
Photograph: "HumanNewborn" by Ernest F - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

5. What is the normal (goal) temperature for a preterm newborn infant?
35.5–37.0 oC
36.0–37.0 oC
36.5–37.5 oC
36.0–37.9 oC

6. Temperature categories (World Health Organization)
Normal 36.5–37.5 oC
Mild hypothermia (cold stress) oC
Moderate hypothermia 32–36 oC
Severe hypothermia < 32 oC

7. Hypothermia in very low birth weight infants: distribution, risk factors and outcomes. S Miller et al. Journal of Perinatology 2011; 31(S49-S56).
California – 127 hospitals –
8,782 VLBW infants (birth weight < 1500 gm)
Mean temperature 36.3oC

8. 0.1% severe, 25.6% moderate, 30.5% mild hypothermia

9. Do you think that thermal regulation during neonatal resuscitation matters for preterm infants?
Yes - I think it is important as it may prevent mortality and serious morbidities.
Sort of – it might be helpful in some babies for some minor morbidities.
Not really sure – but probably doesn’t hurt to try.
No – it probably doesn’t make any difference and might even be harmful.

11. Canadian Neonatal Network 2010-2012 29 NICUs
Association Between Admission Temperature and Mortality and Major Morbidity in Preterm Infants Born at Fewer Than 33 Weeks’ Gestation. Y Lyu et al. JAMA Pediatrics 2015;169(4)
Canadian Neonatal Network
29 NICUs
Composite outcome: mortality, severe neurologic injury, severe retinopathy, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, nosocomial infection
9,833 infants < 33 weeks

12. “optimal temperature” between 36.5 and 37.2°C

13. cpqcc.org Improving clinical practice through collaboration
Delivery Room Management Toolkit

14. Percent neonatal hypothermia CPQCC Network 2006-2015

15. VLBW Infants Ensure person assigned to monitor temperature.
Ensure resuscitation room ambient temperature at least 26oC (79oF).
Utilize chemically activated heat packs
…plastic wrap, cap…

16. No difference in severe IVH
Implementation Methods for Delivery Room Management: A Quality Improvement Comparison Study Lee H Pediatrics 2014; 134:e
A reduction in intraventricular hemorrhage (any grade) after intervention in collaborative group – odds ratio 0.80 ( )
No difference in severe IVH

17. ILCOR 2015

18. What is the optimal strategy for maintaining normal temperature for a newborn preterm (< 32 weeks) infant?
Radiant warmer and plastic wrap and cap
Radiant warmer, plastic wrap, increased room temperature
Radiant warmer, plastic wrap, thermal mattress
Radiant warmer, plastic wrap, warmed humidified gas

19. ILCOR Review on warming adjunct studies
Comparison group 1
Group 2 (control)
Thermal mattress + Plastic wrap + Radiant warmer
Plastic wrap + Radiant warmer
Environmental temperature >=26 oC + Plastic wrap + Radiant warmer
Heated and humidified gases + Plastic wrap + Radiant warmer
Plastic cap + wrap + Radiant warmer
Plastic wrap + Radian warmer
Combination of interventions (Environmental temperature oC + Radiant warmer + wrap body and head in plastic without drying + cap + thermal mattress)
Radiant warmer + Plastic wrap

20. Interventions to Maintain Newborn Temperature in the Delivery Room
The use of radiant warmers and plastic wrap with a cap has improved but not eliminated the risk of hypothermia in preterm infants in the delivery room. Other strategies have been introduced, which include increased room temperature, thermal mattresses, and the use of warmed humidified resuscitation gases.

21. Interventions to Maintain Newborn Temperature in the Delivery Room
Various combinations of these strategies may be reasonable to prevent hypothermia in infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation (Class IIb, LOE B-R, B-NR, C-LD). Compared with plastic wrap and radiant warmer, the addition of a thermal mattress,66–70 warmed humidified gases,71,72 and increased room temperature plus cap plus thermal mattress55,57,59,73 were all effective in reducing hypothermia.

22. Interventions to Maintain Newborn Temperature in the Delivery Room
For all the studies, hyperthermia was a concern, but harm was not shown. Hyperthermia (greater than 38.0°C) should be avoided due to the potential associated risks (Class III—Harm, LOE C-EO).

23. What is your priority on more research / implementation?
Does prevention of hypothermia matter?
How can we more effectively prevent hypothermia?
Are there potential harms in current methods to prevent hypothermia?
We know enough about this now; let’s move on!

24. Gaps in knowledge Do interventions decrease mortality?
Interventions to affect maternal temperature?
Rate of rewarming?
Most effective combination of strategies?
Harm from too much warming?
Will delayed cord clamping impact hypothermia prevention strategies?

25. Changes You May Wish to Make in Practice
1. Evaluate rates of newborn hypothermia in your unit.
2. Implement strategies to prevent hypothermia and continue to monitor temperature.

26. References
For more information on this subject, see the following publications:
Association Between Admission Temperature and Mortality and Major Morbidity in Preterm Infants Born at Fewer Than 33 Weeks’ Gestation. Y Lyu et al. JAMA Pediatrics 2015;169(4)
Hypothermia in very low birth weight infants: distribution, risk factors and outcomes. S Miller et al. Journal of Perinatology 2011; 31(S49-S56)
Implementation Methods for Delivery Room Management: A Quality Improvement Comparison Study. H Lee Pediatrics 2014; 134:e