PEDIATRICS Vol. 49 No. 4 April 1972, pp.

504-513

NEWBORN TEMPERATURE AND CALCULATED HEAT LOSS IN THE

DELIVERY ROOM

Lida Swafford Dahm M.D.1 and L. Stanley James M.D.1

Division of Perinatal Medicine of the Department of Anesthesiology,

Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics, College of Physicians and
Surgeons, Columbia University and Babies Hospital, New York, New
York

Newborn infants lose heat rapidly at birth and during the first half hour
of life. This investigation was undertaken to determine whether the
initial heat loss was due principally to evaporation, and whether or not
establishment of breathing would be irregular or delayed if the initial
cold stress was reduced.

Five groups, each of 10 infants, were studied during the first half hour
of life. Infants in Groups I and IV remained wet and were exposed to
either room air or placed under a radiant heater. Those in Groups II, III,
and V were dried promptly and exposed to room air, wrapped in a
blanket or warmed by means of a radiant heater. Heat loss due to
radiation and convection together was twice that from evaporation.
Reduction of cold stress by placing the infant under a radiant heater as
soon as he is born does not impede or delay the onset of breathing.
Wet infants exposed to room air lost nearly five times more heat than
those who were dried and warmed.

In vigorous infants, the simple maneuver of drying and wrapping in a

warm blanket is almost as effective in diminishing heat loss as placing
them under a radiant heater. However, in depressed or immature
infants who may be more asphyxiated or have reduced energy stores,
radiant heat maintains body temperature while allowing access to the
patient.

Rosie B Gadiaza

Group 6.

St. Claire Medical Center

Reaction Paper:

The article explained the importance of providing care to the

neonate. On the said article, it discussed that proper drying and
wrapping can promote proper heat loss. Therefore, it is a must that the
delivery room must have appropriate temperature conducive to the
welfare of the infant. For me, the role of the nurse is vital for the
wellness of the infant, as a nurse on the delivery room, we are the first
to hold and care for the baby, that is why we must be very careful and
watchful in what we are doing. On the article, it explained that simple
matters of drying can be a vital step towards establishing a stable
circulation of the neonate’s system.

The duties of the nurse on duty in the delivery room can widely
affect the wellness of the baby. Nurses are the front liners on their
health. We must ensure that the appropriate measures in the delivery
room are strictly observed in order to minimize the fatalities that are
open to the neonate. Nurses must master their skills on assessment
and be able to give an appropriate and best action during the delivery.

Radiation exposure and associated risks

to operating-room personnel during use of
fluoroscopic guidance for selected
orthopaedic surgical procedures
ME Miller, ML Davis, CR MacClean, JG Davis, BL Smith and JR
Humphries

Because of the increased use of fluoroscopic guidance techniques in

certain orthopaedic surgical procedures, surgeons and other
operating-room personnel who are involved in these procedures are
voicing growing concern over possible associated radiation health
hazards. Using thin-layer lithium fluoride chips for thermoluminescence
dosimetry, we directly measured the radiation exposure encountered
by the primary surgeon during seven operative procedures that were
done utilizing fluoroscopic guidance techniques. Dosimetry studies
were also carried out using a tissue-equivalent phantom model to
determine the directions of maximum scatter radiation. These studies
indicated that the standard protective apron that is commonly worn
during the use of fluoroscopy provides adequate protection to most of
the body; however, the surgeon is exposed to significant levels of
scatter radiation to the head, neck, and hands, Dosimetry studies
showed that positioning the fluoroscopic beam vertically to the fracture
site of the supine patient, with the x-ray source posterior to the patient,
provided the lowest levels of scatter radiation to the surgeon in the
normal working position.

Rosie B. Gadiaza
Group 6
St. Claire Medical Center

Reaction Paper:

The article is about the effects of fluoroscopic guidelines on

personnel during surgical procedures. The article helped me realize
the importance of providing safety not just on the client but on also on
yourself. As health practitioner, we must also ensure that the safety of
patient as well as the persons involve on the operation is secured. The
protective devices that the personnel wear during the operation cannot
fully guarantee the safety of its user. As the article discussed, the
protective devises can only provide certain measures of safety.
Therefore, it is a must that we should be careful on every surgical
procedure we are involved.
 The fluoroscopic guide produces scattered radiations that could
harm our body, it can cause harm if we are not knowledgeable on its
harmful effect. When Fluoroscopic guide is used in an operation, the
personnel involve should have proper working position in order to
minimize the risk on having radiation while doing the operation.
Following specific measures on the operating room regarding the use
of radiating device must be strictly observed.