Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Heat is On
Why would it be necessary to use a transport isolette? Is it really necessary just to travel from the Labor and Delivery Unit to the NICU? Absolutely! Thermoregulation is one of the main functions of the transport isolette. A temperature probe is placed on the neonate's skin which in turn controls the air temperature of the transporter. If a baby were to become hypothermic the effects could be detrimental. The newborn could develop metabolic acidosis or Pulmonary Hypertension. Cold stressed infant's are also at risk for developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). When an infant is cold, oxygen consumption is increased, blood oxygen levels will begin to fall. In addition to relying on the transporter for warmth, a porta-warm (chemical thermal) mattress or warmed blankets from a blanket warmer are used. For extremely low birth weight babies we also place their bodies in a zip-loc bag for transport (not for freshness or storage). Next time I will discuss other functions of the transport isolette.
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First of all, like your titles. Since I don't work in a neonatal ICU, I am enjoying the information you have been sharing with us about the transport isolette. I have learned how important the isolette is in keeping the infant in an environment that is conducive to its health and survival. Enjoying your blog.
ReplyDeleteThe isolette is a very important piece of equipment. It not only serves as a regulator for an infant, but ultimately a life saver.
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