title: Comparison of Two Low-cost Methods of Cooling Neonates with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.
abstract: Several low-cost methods are used in resource-limited settings to provide therapeutic hypothermia in asphyxiated neonates. There is inadequate data about their efficacy and safety. This is a retrospective study comparing two low-cost cooling methods-frozen gel packs (FGP) and phase changing material (PCM).
  
  
  
  There were 23 babies in FGP and 45 babies in the PCM group. Induction time was significantly shorter with FGP than PCM (45 vs. 90 minutes; p -value < 0.001). Proportion of temperature readings outside the target range was significantly higher (9.8% vs. 3.8%; p -value < 0.001) and fluctuation of core body temperature was wider (standard deviation of target temperature 0.4 °C vs. 0.28 °C) in the FGP group, compared with PCM group.
  
  
  
  Both FGP and PCM are effective and safe, comparable with standard servo-controlled cooling equipment. PCM has the advantage of better maintenance of target temperature with less nursing input, when compared with FGP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Machilakath Panangandi
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Shabeer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Thangaraj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abiramalatha
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Abhilasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Pradita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rebekah
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Arulmoorthy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meghala
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: frozen gel packs; perinatal asphyxia.; phase changing material; therapeutic hypothermia