Turn Down the Heat: Consequences of Hyperthermia
Elevated body temperature increases this metabolic demand in newborns.
What is increased oxygen consumption?
Brown fat is primarily located in these areas of the newborn's body.
What are the interscapular region, neck, axilla, and around the kidneys?
Cold stress increases oxygen demand and may worsen this pulmonary condition in preterm infants.
What is respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)?
Drying the newborn immediately after delivery helps prevent this type of heat loss.
What is evaporation?
The temperature range where a neonate maintains normal body temperature while using the least oxygen and calories.
What is neutral thermal environment (NTE)?
Hyperthermia can lead to this fluid imbalance due to increased insensible water loss.
What is dehydration?
This early clinical sign may indicate a newborn is becoming cold stressed.
What is tachypnea?
Which metabolic complication can result from increased glucose utilization during cold stress?
What is hypoglycemia?
Two items recommended for preterm infants less than 32 weeks' gestation or 2,000 grams upon delivery to reduce heat loss.
What are polyethylene wraps (raincoat) and thermal mattress (transwarmer)?
The two main factors that determine an infant’s neutral thermal environment.
What are gestational age and weight?
This cardiovascular sign may appear as the body attempts to compensate for increased metabolic demand during hyperthermia.
What is tachycardia?
Premature infants lose heat rapidly because of a large ratio of this to body mass.
What is body surface area?
Peripheral vasoconstriction during cold stress can worsen this acid-base condition.
What is metabolic acidosis?
Maintaining the delivery room temperature between this range helps prevent neonatal heat loss.
What is 23.8°C-26.1°C (75°F-79°F)?
Premature infants have increased heat loss partly due to this skin characteristic.
What is thin, immature skin with increased transepidermal water loss?
This respiratory change may occur as the infant attempts to get rid of the heat and meet metabolic needs.
What is tachypnea?
This physiologic response occurs when infants attempt to conserve heat by reducing blood flow to the skin.
What is peripheral vasoconstriction?
This heat production process allows infants to generate heat without shivering.
Skin temperature goal used in servo-controlled incubators for most preterm infants.
What is 36.5°C-37.0°C (97.7°F-98.6°F)?
On an incubator or radiant warmer what control setting (mode) automatically adjusts heat based on the infant’s skin probe temperature.
What is a servo-controlled (mode) incubator?
Excessive heat can increase metabolic rate leading to increased glucose utilization and this metabolic problem.
What is hypoglycemia?
This metabolic process occurs when oxygen levels fall during cold stress and leads to acidosis.
What is anaerobic metabolism?
This cascade is often referred to as the cold stress cycle.
What is cold stress → hypoxia → anaerobic metabolism → metabolic acidosis?
This practice improves thermoregulation, glucose stability, and bonding.
What is skin-to-skin (kangaroo care)?
Failure to maintain a neutral thermal environment can increase consumption of these three metabolic resources
What is oxygen, glucose, and calories