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.

American Academy of Pediatrics Web Site

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.

NIH, NCBI PubMed article abstract: Significance of intrapartum asphyxia for the onset of fetal brain damage

National Institute of Health NIH, National Library of Medicine PubMed article Abstract: Defining cerebral palsy: pathogenesis, pathophysiology and new intervention. The focus of this paper is to explore antenatal antecedents as etiologies of CP and the impact of obstetric care on the prevention of CP.

NIH PubMed Central Archives of Disease in Childhood - Umbilical venous blood ph: a useful aid in the diagnosis of asphyxia at birth. Umbilical venous blood, and umbilical arterial blood pH, PO2, PCO2, and base excess were determined in 453 term infants at birth. The results indicate that umbilical venous blood pH, and umbilical arterial blood pH are significantly related to each another.

Clinical Chemistry - 1997 NACB Symposium - Evaluation of the newborn's blood gas status - This paper discusses considerations for interpretation of blood gases in the newborn period. Blood gas measurements and noninvasive estimations provide important information about oxygenation. Its determined that Blood gas measurements and complementary, noninvasive monitoring techniques provide the clinician with information essential to patient assessment, therapeutic decision making, and prognostication. Blood gas measurements are as important for ill newborn infants as for other critically ill patients, but unique challenges are provided by rapidly changing physiology, difficult access to arterial and mixed venous sampling sites, and small blood volumes.

Providing a wealth of information, solutions and leadership on issues related to brain injury . Services and Resources on the site reflect the best practices in the field of Traumatic Brain Injury

The purpose of this Winthrop-University Hospital, NY study was to evaluate whether computerized analysis of fetal heart rate variation may improve fetal surveillance in post term pregnancy. The study concluded that a computerized numeric analysis of fetal heart rate variation may improve fetal surveillance in post term pregnancy.

WebMd - Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring

NIH Medline Plus encyclopedia article: Fetal heart monitoring

American Family Physician - Interpretation of the Electronic Fetal Heart Rate During Labor

University of Weatern Ontario, Canada study to estimate to what extent computerized fetal heart rate (FHR) parameters are affected by labor and to estimate the relationship between FHR parameters and the degree of fetal metabolic acidosis in laboring patients at term. Study concluded that in term pregnant women with reassuring FHR tracing, labor causes an increase in both short- and long-term FHR variation, which was abolished in the presence of nonreassuring FHR tracing. Computer-derived FHR parameters studied during the last hour of labor were not correlated with the degree of metabolic acidosis as measured in the umbilical artery at birth.

Article abstract of French study assessing neonatal outcomes after instrumental vaginal delivery. Many of the most severe neonatal complications are observed when perinatal asphyxia has occurred. Extractor types and quality of use under defined criteria are closely associated with neonatal adverse outcomes in operative vaginal delivery. Forceps deliveries are as safe as vacuum deliveries to the neonate. In conclusion, operative vaginal delivery performed for maternal or fetal reasons are associated with several neonatal adverse events, usually non specific and with a short term good prognosis.

Description and meaning of Blood Gases and related tests.

Sweden study to compare the efficacy in detecting signs of fetal hypoxia in labour of intermittent (I-group) versus continuous (C-group) electronic fetal monitoring in women with low or moderate risk factors for fetal distress. Study concluded that Intermittent use of electronic fetal monitoring at regular intervals (with stethoscopic auscultation in between) appears to be as safe as continuous electronic fetal monitoring in low risk labours. prospective, randomised study."

Neuropathology online - Course material - Asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in mature infants

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] .)

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.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Cerebral Hypoxia Information Page