Relative efficacy of an incubator and an open warmer in producing thermoneutrality for the small premature infant.

To determine which warming system more closely approximates a neutral thermal environment, the oxygen consumption of 16 premature babies, weighing less than 1,500 gm each, was measured in a convectively heated incubator and under an open radiant warmer. Both systems were controlled to maintain a skin temperature of 36 C. The oxygen consumption of the infants was significantly higher under the radiant warmer. This result is in agreement with published data for this group of premature infants.