Regional heat loss in newborn infants. Part II. Heat loss in newborns with various diseases--a method of assessing local metabolism and perfusion.

Heat flux (HF) from the head, trunk and limbs of 6 neonates with various abnormalities was measured with HF transducers to find out whether the regional HF pattern reflected the metabolic and/or circulatory status of a neonate, his brain or limbs sufficiently to be of clinical use. The increased HF from all body sites in 2 infants receiving orciprenaline reflected the raised metabolism. The increased HF from the head and trunk together with decreased HF from the limbs in infants with the hypoplastic left heart syndrome reflected the degree of centralization of the circulation. The decreased HF from the head of infants with microcephalus and internal hydrocephalus indicated the diminished metabolic activity of the underlying brain. HF from the limbs, related to HF from central body parts, was useful in assessing peripheral perfusion. It might be possible to develop measurement of regional HF into a method of determining local metabolism and perfusion.