Thermoregulation and Integumentary

Describe the types of heat transfer:

• Conduction

• Convection

• Radiation

• Evaporation

• Via direct contact; warm/cold surface, chemical mattress

• Via air currents/drafts; incubators, cold air drafts

• Via infrared energy from warm to cold; radiant warmer, cold window

• Via water vaporizing from skin; humidity, bathing

Describe the following:

• Cafe au lait spots

• Hemangioma

• Subcutaneous fat necrosis

• Erythema toxicum

• Pustular melanosis

• Port-wine stain

• Flat lesions with increased melanin; 6+ may indicate neurofibromatosis

• Vascular tumor; most common in preterm females

• Usually d/t hypothermia, forceps delivery, neonatal stress, hypercalcemia

• Benign newborn rash

• Benign baby acne

• Capillary angioma; lesion is benign but may accompany a syndrome

Signs of cold stress

Central cyanosis, mottling, poor feeding, abdominal distention, ABDs, RDS, lethargy, weak cry, hypoglycemia, CNS depression, edema

Signs of hyperthermia

Increased metabolic demands, vasodilation, fluid loss, increased O2 requirement, hypoxia, cyanosis, tachypnea, hypoglycemia