Computer-generated versus nurse-determined strategy for incubator humidity and time to regain birthweight.

OBJECTIVE

To compare effects on premature infants' weight gain of a computer-generated and a nurse-determined incubator humidity strategy. An optimal humidity protocol is thought to reduce time to regain birthweight.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized controlled design.

SETTING

Level IIIC neonatal intensive care unit in the Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS

Infants of 24 to 30 weeks gestational age with a birthweight less than 1,500 g.

INTERVENTION

Two incubator humidity strategies were studied: computer-generated and nurse-determined humidity.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Time needed to regain birthweight.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty six infants were enrolled: 65 were exposed to the computer-generated strategy and 71 to the nurse-determined strategy. Demographic characteristics were well balanced between groups, with birthweight 981 +/- 245 versus 991 +/- 213 g, mean gestational age 27.7 +/- 1.7 versus 27.7 +/- 1.6 weeks. Main outcome did not significantly differ between strategies: survival analysis showed an equal number of days needed to regain birthweight (median 9 days, with 95% CIs 8-10 and 7-11 for infants exposed to the computer-generated and nurse-determined humidity strategy, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Computer-generated strategy does not reduce the time needed to regain birthweight.