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Indian Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine

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Birth Asphyxia

Jayendera R. Gohil , Jayendera R. Gohil , Heena Hasan

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Indian Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 1(1):p 41-50, January - June 2014. | DOI:

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Abstract

Birth asphyxia is an important cause of acute neurologic injury, occurring in 2 to 3 cases per 1000 term live births in developed countries, with a higher incidence in less developed countries. Birth asphyxia related neonatal mortality and morbidity including long-term neuro-developmental sequele was seen in 25%-60% of survivors. It is estimated that around 23% perinatal deaths are due to birth asphyxia, with a large proportion of stillbirths. Asphyxia should not be confused with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or cerebral palsy (CP) since not all asphyxiated neonates develop HIE or CP and there are other causes for the same. In this article there is description of definitions, aetiologies, pathophysiology, clinical features, basic and recent investigations, older and newer treatment of birth asphyxia. Although there is no specific treatment for birth asphyxia only supportive treatment (fluid and electrolytes balance, oxygenation and ventilation etc.) to prevent the complications and primary preventive measures (electronic fetal heart monitoring, training to birth attendants, home based newborn care) are helpful. In the developed world, for the HIE, hypothermia has been the only treatment that has worked somewhat (8 -18%). The preferred cooling is whole body with a heart-lung bypass or ECMO; since that is rarely available, external whole body or external head cooling is the next best option. Prevention of reperfusion injury by early (within 6 hours) antioxidant therapy seems to hold the promise for future and should be studied. 

Key words:Birth Asphyxia; HIE; Hypoxic- Ischemic Encephalopathy; Neonatal Encephalopathy; Neonatal Depression. 

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