title: Perinatal morbidity and risk of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy associated with intrapartum sentinel events.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine perinatal morbidity and rate of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in infants exposed to intrapartum sentinel events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study from 2000-2005. Perinatal mortality, perinatal morbidity and rate of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy were compared in 3 groups of infants exposed to different risk factors for perinatal asphyxia (sentinel events, nonreassuring fetal status, elective cesarean section).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred eighty-six infants were studied. Perinatal mortality was 6% in the sentinel event group and 0.3% in the nonreassuring fetal status group (relative risk, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-2.94). Perinatal morbidity was 2-6 times more frequent in infants exposed to sentinel events; the incidence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was 10%, compared with 2.5% in the nonreassuring fetal status group (relative risk, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-2.52). No infant in the elective cesarean section group died, had perinatal morbidity, or developed encephalopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrapartum sentinel events are associated with a high incidence of perinatal morbidity and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez-Biarge
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quero
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Alix
mesh_terms: D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000401:mortality*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000401:mortality*; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014597:Uterine Rupture / Q000401:mortality*