ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of high humidification of nearly 100% on insensible water loss and total fluid requirement in very low birth weight infants during their first week of life. METHODS: We retrospectively compared twenty-five infants (GA 28.1+/-1.7 wk, and BW 970+/-186 g) who were cared for in a double walled incubator with high humidification with 24 infants (GA 27.6+/-2.2 wk, and BW 972+/-186 g) who were in a double walled incubator without raised humidity during the first week of their life. We analyzed the changes in body weight, total fluid intake, insensible water loss, urine output, input of sodium and potassium, serum levels of sodium and potassium, and the incidence of complications during the hospitalization in the high humidified group and the control group. RESULTS: High humidification during the first week of life in very low birth weight infants reduced insensible water loss and total fluid requirement. However the imbalance of serum electrolyte or oliguria did not increase. The high humidification group (n=25) acquired more physiologic weight loss during the first two weeks of life than the control group (n=24) but gained more weight than the control group (n=24) on the third month of life. Infants nursed with high humidification showed an increased tendency toward spontaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus and a decreased tendency toward surgical ligation of the patent ductus arteriosus and intraventricular hemorrhage without the evidence of an increase in infection. No significant differences were noted in the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity. CONCLUSION: The high humidification of nearly 100% and fluid restriction therapy during the first week of life were effective in the fluid and electrolyte management of very low birth weight infants.