PEDIATRICS Vol. 83 No. 6 June 1989, pp. 945-950
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Knauth, A.
Right arrow Articles by Baumgart, S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Knauth, A.
Right arrow Articles by Baumgart, S.

Semipermeable Polyurethane Membrane as an Artificial Skin for the Premature Neonate

Alison Knauth BSE1, Margaret Gordin MS, RN1, Wendy McNelis RN1, and Stephen Baumgart MD1

1 The Division of Neonatology, Departments of Pediatrics and Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia

A thin and semipermeable polyurethane membrane adherently applied to premature neonates as an artificial skin was investigated as an atraumatic surface barrier sufficient to reduce transepidermal water loss without inhibiting natural infant skin development during the first few days of life. A sample group of 18 neonates (birth weight [mean ± SEMI] 1.39 ± 0.12 kg, gestation [mean ± SEMI] 31 ± 1 weeks) received two 3 x 3-cm polyurethane patches adherent over the chest and abdomen. Transepidermal water loss was measured before and after application and after membrane removal. During longitudinal study, seven infants were treated day 1 through day 4 of life and were evaluated for skin integrity 24 hours after patch removal on day 5. Polyurethane membranes produced an acute and significant reduction in transepidermal water loss for the 18 subjects: 21.1 ± 2.0 g/m2/h before application v 10.5 ± 1.4 g/m2/h with membranes in place (P < .001). Immediately after patch removal, transepidermal loss returned to 22.8 ± 3.0 g/m2/h. Throughout the first four days of life, daily measurements of water loss were significantly less: 53% to as much as 72% reduction from polyurethane-covered sites when compared with adjacent naked skin. After polyurethane membrane removal, skin development of transepidermal barrier function was comparable over both sites. Dressings did not lose adhesive or plastic properties during an extended time in either radiant warmer or incubator environments, electronic monitoring through membranes was not impeded, and adhesive injuries were not observed. An adherent, semipermeable polyurethane membrane may be effective as an atraumatic artificial barrier to prevent large transepidermal water loss and protect the skin of the premature neonate.

Key Words: polyurethane membrane • artificial skin • premature neonate

Submitted on May 20, 1988
Accepted on July 14, 1988




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol Res NursHome page
S. M. Ludington-Hoe, N. Nguyen, J. Y. Swinth, and R. D. Satyshur
Kangaroo Care Compared to Incubators in Maintaining Body Warmth in Preterm Infants
Biol Res Nurs, July 1, 2000; 2(1): 60 - 73.
[Abstract] [PDF]