PubMed Study Abstract: Ten indicators available during the first two hours of life, such as clinical criteria of neonatal distress and postnatal arterial blood gases, were compared
with the neonatal neurological course in sixty full term newborns with significant birth asphyxia in order to test their value for the diagnosis and the short-term prognosis of severe birth asphyxia. Birth asphyxia was defined as severe when it was followed by symptoms of moderate or severe post-asphyxial encephalopathy.
NCBI NIH PubMed.gov Abstract of Finland study investigating reproductive maternal risk factors of intrapartum fetal asphyxia. The study concluded that the incidence of intrapartum fetal asphyxia was 2.5%. Placental abruption, primiparity, alcohol use during pregnancy, low birth weight, preeclampsia, male fetuses, and small-for-gestational age births were independent risk factors of intrapartum asphyxia, with adjusted relative risks of 3.74, 3.10, 1.75, 1.57, 1.49, 1.48 and 1.33, respectively. Most cases of intrapartum fetal asphyxia occur in low-risk pregnancies and, therefore, risk screening in antenatal care cannot accurately predict which women will eventually need emergency care for fetal asphyxia.
NIH PUbMed Abstract of Russian study documenting the Physical and neurological state of the newborn afer perinatal asphyxia.This paper is presented as modern conceptions about asphyxia origin, risk factors, neurological and systemic complications for child nervous system and organism.
PubMed abstract: Neonatal depression and birth asphyxia in the low birthweight neonate. In 392 low birthweight neonates, acidosis as evident from umbilical artery pH 7.1 or less was strongly associated with Apgar score 6 or lower at 1 minute. However, most cases that were depressed (Apgar score 6 or lower at 1 minute) were not acidotic. Neonatal depression was most strongly and directly correlated with gestational age. Neonatal depression and birth asphyxia are distinct entiti
NICHD, NIH, Sponored and American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists co-sponsored study and Report of the Workship on Acute Perinatal Asphyxia in Term Infants.
Trakya University School of Medicine, Turkey study to evaluate the impact of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) on morbidity and mortality of newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia. The study concluded that after Neonatal resuscitation (RP) courses, the number of patients with perinatal asphyxia and with no resuscitation and also the duration of hospitalization decreased significantly, whereas the first minute Apgar scores increased significantly.
Science Daily - Souce of the latest research news - Science News - Better Prognosis for Children Born with Sevree Acute Asphyxia Science Daily (May 22, 2010)
New England Journal of Medicine abstract of study to evaluate the effects of induction of moderate hypothermia in infants who had perinatal asphyxia. Study concluded that Induction of moderate hypothermia for 72 hours in infants who had perinatal asphyxia did not significantly reduce the combined rate of death or severe disability but resulted in improved neurologic outcomes in survivors. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN89547571 [controlled-trials.com] .)
NIH PubMed Abstract of University of Maryland study reviewing the physiology of acid-base balance and fetal gas exchange as well as the current scientific understanding of the role of intrauterine asphyxia in the pathophysiology of neonatal excephalopathy and cerebral palsy.
Canadian study to examine the roles of clinical risk scoring, electronic fetal heart monitoring and fetal blood gas and acid-base assessement in the prediction of intrapartum fetal asphyxia in term pregnancies. The study concluded that although fetal heart rate patterns will not discriminate all asphyxial exposures, continuous fetal heart rate monitoring supplemented by fetal blood gas and acid-base assessment can be a useful fetal assessment paradigm for intrapartum fetal asphyxia
PubMed Abstract of study to determine whether hyperoxaemia and/or hypocapnia during the first 2 hours of
life add to the risk of brain injury after intrapartum asphyxia"
Future planned study being conducted by the University of California to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of moderate to high doses of erythropoietin in newborn infants with birth asphyxia.
Imperial College London sponsored trial in newborn infants with perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy assessing whether a combination of hypothermia and inhaled xenon preserve cerebral metabolism and structure.
Acute birth asphyxia is a cause of death and neurological injury. At present, there is no proven treatment; however, studies in animals suggest that brain cooling may protect against brain injury. This large multicenter trial will randomize term infants with a history of problems at delivery and signs of depression to total body cooling or standard care.