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Active cooling more effective for stabilizing temperature
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Temperature stability can be improved for infants requiring therapeutic hypothermia with servo-controlled active cooling, according to recent study findings published in Pediatrics.
The study included 134 infants transferred to a neonatal ICU for ongoing therapeutic hypothermia. Sixty-four infants were cooled passively and 70 were cooled after purchase of a servo-controlled mattress (active cooling).
Researchers found that cooling started at a younger age in the actively cooled group compared with the passive group (P<.01). Median stabilization time was also shorter in the actively cooled group compared with the passive group (P=.04). Thirty-nine percent of infants who were passively cooled reached target temperature range at arrival compared with 100% of the actively cooled group. Infants reaching outside of the target range were greater in the passive group, 27% did not achieve target temperature and 34% were overcooled.
“To effectively manage infants requiring therapeutic hypothermia, it is important that initiation of cooling is not delayed and that cooling commences in the local referring unit,” the researchers wrote. “Servo-controlled active cooling has been shown to improve temperature stability within therapeutic range throughout transfer with a reduction in transfer time. Transfer teams operating over medium to large distances should seriously consider this approach.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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