Postpartale thermische schäden der knieregion durch wärmflaschen

Background. Hot water bottles are still routinely used on a number of neonatal wards. Reports on the occurrence of thermal lesions associated with the use of these types of warming devices in newborns are rare. Method and results. Three case reports from the Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University of Munich, Children's Hospital, Göppingen and City Hospital for Children, Heilbronn are presented to show thermal injuries due to the use of hot water bottles in newborns. One third-degree and two second-degree burns of the knee region had been encountered in the 1st postnatal week. Discussion. Hot water bottles may induce thermal injuries to neonatal skin tissue depending on temperature, duration of exposure to the heat source, thickness of skin, and position of the newborn. Conclusion. Warming devices such as hot water bottles must be used with utmost caution. If necessary, only those warming devices should be used that generate a cutaneous surface temperature below 42°C. If the induced cutaneous surface temperature cannot be measured, the warming device should not be used.