The cold preterm on admission — moderate hypothermia with hypoglycaemia

Clinical information for the examiner

Setting: Tertiary neonatal unit, 15 minutes after birth by emergency caesarean for preterm labour. The delivery room was noted to be cool (below 25 C). The infant was wrapped in a towel that is now damp. No plastic wrap was used; no hat was applied. [1]

On your arrival:

• Axillary temperature 35.0 C; infant is pale, grunting, with mild subcostal recession. [9]
• Heart rate 150, SpO₂ 90% in air, capillary refill 3 seconds, peripherally cool. [9]
• Bedside glucose 1.6 mmol/L. [9]