<p>Aim: To examine the reaction of extreme preterm infants with regarding to body temperature and transepidermal water loss during skin-to-skin care according to Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during the infant’s first week of life. Method: This was a descriptive quantitatively designed study, which was a pilot study within the framework of a larger project. Nine children, with a median gestational age of 24.91 weeks, were examined by measuring body temperature (axilla and skin temperature) as well as transepidermal water loss before, during and after KMC. Results: The study showed that skin temperature tended to rise during KMC, especially for those children who were nursed with KMC for more than 60 minutes. Eight out of nine children had, after completing KMC, a normal axilla temperature. As was expected, transepidermal water loss was elevated when measured both pre and post test. Despite this, the children showed normal body temperature. Conclusion: The results of the study support that KMC can create a micro-climate that, for at least one hour, makes it possible for even extreme preterm infants to maintain a body temperature within the normal range during their first week of life.</p>

Aim: To examine the reaction of extreme preterm infants with regarding to body temperature and transepidermal water loss during skin-to-skin care according to Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during the infant’s first week of life. Method: This was a descriptive quantitatively designed study, which was a pilot study within the framework of a larger project. Nine children, with a median gestational age of 24.91 weeks, were examined by measuring body temperature (axilla and skin temperature) as well as transepidermal water loss before, during and after KMC. Results: The study showed that skin temperature tended to rise during KMC, especially for those children who were nursed with KMC for more than 60 minutes. Eight out of nine children had, after completing KMC, a normal axilla temperature. As was expected, transepidermal water loss was elevated when measured both pre and post test. Despite this, the children showed normal body temperature. Conclusion: The results of the study support that KMC can create a micro-climate that, for at least one hour, makes it possible for even extreme preterm infants to maintain a body temperature within the normal range during their first week of life.

In extremely preterm infants, acute abdominal emergencies are fortunately less common with improving care. Spontaneous intestinal perforation and necrotizing enterocolitis are conditions where emergency surgery is most often needed. Conservative medical management and placement of temporary drain are often used in the initial management. Internal hernia (IH) is an uncommon cause of bowel obstruction in neonates, is difficult to diagnose and unfortunately are found only at autopsy. The presentation in preterm infants, distinction between these conditions, and the need for early diagnosis of IH are discussed.