Thermoregulation

Question 1

Brown fat

Answer 1

Non-shivering thermogenesis
Increases with GA

Found in axillary, mediastinal, paraspinal, perinephric, and interscapular areas

Question 2

Non-shivering thermogenesis

Answer 2

Decrease in temperature ->
Increased sympathetic activity->
Increased norepi and TSH->
T4 conversion to T3->
Thermogenin (Uncoupling protein 1)->
Uncouples mitochondrial phosphorylation in brown fat->
Fat oxidation and heat production

Question 3

Neutral thermal environment

Answer 3

Energy consumption required to maintain normal body temp

Very narrow in preterm infants

Question 4

Evaporation

Answer 4

Transfer of water from skin to the environment surrounding infant
Humidity helps prevent this

Question 5

Conduction

Answer 5

Transfer of heat between contacting solid objects of different temperatures
Mattresses in incubators have very low conducivity

Question 6

Convection

Answer 6

Heat exchange between a solid object and liquid or gas in the environment
Heated and humidified respiratory support is important

Question 7

Radiation

Answer 7

Transfer of heat from a warm to a cooler surface

Double walled incubators decrease radiance by preventing loss of heat from baby to the walls of the room around them

Question 8

Reducing heat loss in the delivery room

Answer 8

Increase environmental temp to at least 23-24 Celsius
Use of heated/humidified gas sources
Using exothermic mattress and plastic wrap
Placing infant under a radiant warmer