THERMAL EQUIPMENT USAGE PATTERNS IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNITS - INTERUNIT VARIABILITY AND INTRAUNIT CONSISTENCY

We conducted a survey and audit of thermal equipment use in very low-b irth-weight infants in five Ohio neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to document regional practice. The survey indicated a variety of ther mal care styles. Two NICUs preferred to admit infants to incubators, t he other three favoring radiant warmers. These three NICUs moved infan ts from radiant warmers into incubators at significantly different mea n ages. The audit demonstrated inconsistent use of plastic covers, war ming mattresses, and added humidity under radiant warmers, and discrep ancies between survey responses and actual use within NICUs. Inter-NIC U variability of thermal equipment use may complicate fluid management .