Polyethylene Wrap for Thermoregulation in the Preterm Infant: A Randomized Trial

We compared the response of temperature adaptation in preterm infants using the polyethylene wrap with and without previous drying versus the sterile preheated field. Both groups of polyethylene use achieved a mean axillary temperature of 36.5 degrees C at 30 minutes compared with 75 minutes for the group of traditional care. At 120 minutes, the incubator temperature was higher in those using preheated field, compared with infants in the polyethylene wrap with or without previous drying, (35.15 degrees C, 34.20 degrees C and 34.20 degrees C respectively; P=0.0001). No difference in axillary or incubator temperature was found between the groups using the polyethylene wrap.