Computer-assisted newborn intensive care

Abstract

A minicomputer has been programmed to aid in the intensive care of high-risk newborn babies. The computer provides 24-hour on-line access to physiologic and environmental data and controls the heating of infant incubators. The control algorithm limits fluctuations in the incubator chamber and protects the infant against escape from neutral thermal conditions. The mortality rate for 105 infants cared for using the computerized systems was significantly reduced when compared to that of 105 matched high-risk infants cared for using standard non-computer-assisted techniques in the same nursery setting.