A randomised control trial of clingfilm for prevention of hypothermia in term infants during phototherapy

Boo NY, Chew EL
Correspondence: Professor Nem-Yun Boo, nemyun_boo@imu.edu.my

ABSTRACT
Introduction This study aimed to compare the core, abdominal wall, and plantar temperatures of well jaundiced term infants undergoing phototherapy with or without clingfilm covering the lower two-thirds of the upper end of their bassinets.
Methods This was a randomised controlled trial carried out in a tertiary university hospital on normal healthy term infants undergoing phototherapy. 106 eligible infants were randomised to receive phototherapy with (n=52) or without (n=54) the use of clingfilm during a two-hour period. Subsequently, after nappy change and feeding, they were crossed over to receive phototherapy without or with the clingfilm in place, respectively. Their body temperatures were measured at zero and two hours after phototherapy.
Results There was no significant difference in their core, abdominal wall and plantar temperatures at baseline and after two hours of phototherapy (p-value is greater than 0.05) between infants with and without the use of clingfilm. Irrespective of the use of clingfilm, there was significant (p-value is less than 0.001) increase in core body temperatures after two hours of continuous phototherapy, with resultant hyperthermia (greater than 37.5 degree Celsius) in 42 percent of infants when under clingfilm and 35.8 percent when without clingfilm. A few (2.8 percent) infants, though statistically not significant, became mildly hypothermic after two hours of phototherapy when clingfilm was not used (p-value is greater than 0.05).
Conclusion Hyperthermia was common during phototherapy, irrespective of the use of clingfilm. Hypothermia was rare and the preventive role of clingfilm is not certain.

Keywords: clingfilm, hypothermia, neonatal hypothermia, phototherapy
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(9): 757-762