Liquid incubator with perfluorochemicals for extremely premature infants.

Objectives: Maintenance of appropriate body temperature, humidification and prevention of skin injury are very important in the management of extremely premature infants with immature skin. We have developed a new closed liquid incubator, utilising the characteristics of perfluorochemical (PFC) liquids, i.e., high specific gravity and chemical and biological inertness. The potential of this incubator to control body temperature was evaluated in rats.

Methods: PFC liquid (FC43; 3M Company, Tokyo, Japan) within the incubator was heated or cooled and the rectal temperature of each rat and the PFC temperature were monitored.

Results: The rectal temperature of rats floating on the PFC liquid surface changed almost in parallel to the temperature of PFC within the incubator, indicating that this technique can be used to warm or cool adults rats in a stable manner. The relative humidity of air within the incubator was maintained constant at 100%.

Conclusions: The liquid incubator used in the present study maintained an environment with a relative humidity of 100% and allowed stable maintenance of temperature in adult rats. We also demonstrated that heating and cooling the PFC liquid allowed control of body temperature. Although further studies are required, this new incubator may be useful for the clinical management of extremely premature infants.