LAUSR

Aims Use of Plastic bags to prevent heat loss can be a feasible and cheaper option. Utilisation of plastic bags or wraps has been shown to prevent heat loss among very low birth weight and very preterm infants. Our aim is to compare the effectiveness of plastic bags in comparison to incubator in preterm and low birth weight neonates. Methods We conducted a Randomised control trialat the Paediatrics Unit, Civil Hospital, Karachi for six months from 18th May 2016 To 17th November 2016. Non-probability consecutive sampling was used for the study. Newborns with gestational age <37 weeks and birth weight between 1000 and less than 2500 grams of either gender were included. Neonates with congenital malformation, skin blisters, open neural tube defects, abdominal wall defects and congenital heart defects were excluded. Total 100 newborns were randomly allocated into Interventional group and in control group. In control group initial axillary temperature was obtained. Repeat was obtained at 1 hour. In intervention group the infants remained in the plastic bag for at least 1 hour after birth, axillary temperature was noted and if the temperature found to be >36.5°C, effectiveness was positive. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Stratification was done. Chi-square test was applied post stratification and p-value≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results In group-A (Plastic Bag Group), mean neonatal temperature at admission was 32.88°C±1.27°C and in group-B (Incubator group), it was 32.05°C±1.28°C. In group-A, mean neonatal temperature after 1 hour was 36.97°C±0.70°C and in group-B it was 36.82°C±0.76°C. In group-A effectiveness was 52.5% and in group-B it was 47.5%. Conclusion Our study found out that thermal protection of the newborn can relatively easily be achieved by wrapping the infant with plastic bad after birth. Use of plastic bags was found more effective than incubators.