Heat losses from babies in incubators.

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Abstract
Simple methods by which the thermal environment provided by an incubator can be measured and analyzed into conductive, convective, radiant, and evaporative components were developed and applied to 2 commercial incubators working on different principles. Radiant heat losses were considerable unless room temperature was unusually high. A naked newborn premature infant placed in such an incubator with the air at 34[degree]C. (93[degree]F.) will need to increase its O2 consumption 25% above the basal level to maintain its body temperature at 37[degree]C. if the room temperature is 20[degree]C. (68[degree]F.). The clinical significance of these findings is discussed and various methods of reducing or compensating for these losses are suggested.[long dash]From auth. sum.