The Journal of pediatrics
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The Journal of pediatrics · Sep 1984
Improved prognosis in severely hypothermic newborn infants treated by rapid rewarming.
We introduced a rapid rewarming technique as part of standard therapy in 16 newborn infants with effects of severe environmental hypothermia. On admission, mean rectal temperature was 31.0 +/- 2.7 degrees C, mean gestational age was 33.4 +/- 4.5 weeks, and mean birth weight was 1.76 +/- 0.71 kg. Thirteen infants were admitted within 30 hours of delivery, and the remainder at 2 to 3 weeks of age. ⋯ No complications could be attributed to the rapid rewarming technique. Of three infants who died, all weighed less than 1.25 kg at birth. This 81% survival is in contrast to the high mortality (25% to 50%) noted previously among infants treated by gradual rewarming.