[Cooling as treatment of birth asphyxia].
In about 10 per cent of children with cerebral palsy, the most probable cause is birth asphyxia. The brain injury following birth asphyxia evolves in part over hours or days--as a secondary process. This opens a 'window of opportunity' for intervention. Decreasing the temperature by as little as 3 degrees C appears to be effective. It is possible to identify babies with a 50 per cent risk of death or survival with cerebral palsy within 3 to 6 hours after birth. Pilot trials of cooling suggest that the side-effects of cooling can be managed. Randomized controlled trials are underway. Obtaining informed consent from the parents for these trials represents a particular challenge.
Greisen
G
G
Neonatalklinikken, Juliane Marie Centret, Rigshospitalet, København. greisen@rh.dk
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001831:Body Temperature; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017679:Cryotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic