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Observational Study
. 2015 Jul-Aug;133(4):314-9.
doi: 10.1590/1516-3180.2013.7740026. Epub 2014 Oct 28.

Neuroprotective body hypothermia among newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: three-year experience in a tertiary university hospital. A retrospective observational study

Mauricio Magalhães  1 , Francisco Paulo Martins Rodrigues  1 , Maria Renata Tollio Chopard  1 , Victoria Catarina de Albuquerque Melo  1 , Amanda Melhado  1 , Inez Oliveira  1 , Clery Bernardi Gallacci  1 , Paulo Roberto Pachi  1 , Tabajara Barbosa Lima Neto  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Neuroprotective body hypothermia among newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: three-year experience in a tertiary university hospital. A retrospective observational study

Mauricio Magalhães et al. Sao Paulo Med J. 2015 Jul-Aug.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Context and objective: Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Studies have shown that therapeutic hypothermia decreases neurological sequelae and death. Our aim was therefore to report on a three-year experience of therapeutic hypothermia among asphyxiated newborns.

Design and setting: Retrospective study, conducted in a university hospital.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with perinatal asphyxia undergoing body cooling between May 2009 and November 2012 were evaluated.

Results: Thirty-nine infants fulfilled the hypothermia protocol criteria. Four newborns were removed from study due to refractory septic shock, non-maintenance of temperature and severe coagulopathy. The median Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were 2 and 5. The main complication was infection, diagnosed in seven mothers (20%) and 14 newborns (40%). Convulsions occurred in 15 infants (43%). Thirty-one patients (88.6%) required mechanical ventilation and 14 of them (45%) were extubated within 24 hours. The duration of mechanical ventilation among the others was 7.7 days. The cooling protocol was started 1.8 hours after birth. All patients showed elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase, creatine phosphokinase- MB and lactate dehydrogenase. There was no severe arrhythmia; one newborn (2.9%) presented controlled coagulopathy. Four patients (11.4%) presented controlled hypotension. Twenty-nine patients (82.9%) underwent cerebral ultrasonography and 10 of them (34.5%) presented white matter hyper-echogenicity. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 33 infants (94.3%) and 11 of them (33.3%) presented hypoxic-ischemic changes. The hospital stay was 23 days. All newborns were discharged. Two patients (5.8%) needed gastrostomy.

Conclusion: Hypothermia as therapy for asphyxiated newborns was shown to be safe.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:: A encefalopatia hipóxico-isquêmica neonatal apresenta alta morbi-mortalidade. Estudos com hipotermia comprovam diminuição de sequelas neurológicas e morte. Nosso objetivo foi então relatar experiência de três anos da hipotermia terapêutica em recém-nascidos (RN) asfixiados.

TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL:: Estudo restrospectivo, conduzido em hospital universitário.

MÉTODOS:: Trinta e cinco pacientes com asfixia perinatal submetidos a resfriamento corporal entre maio de 2009 e novembro de 2012 foram avaliados.

RESULTADOS:: Trinta e nove RN preencheram os critérios do protocolo de hipotermia. Quatro RN foram excluídos devido a choque séptico refratário, não manutenção da temperatura e coagulopatia grave. A mediana do Apgar de 1o e 5o minutos foi de 2 e 5. A maior complicação foi infecção, diagnosticada em sete mães (20%) e 14 RN (40%). Convulsão ocorreu em 15 RN (43%). 31 pacientes (88,6%) necessitaram da ventilação mecânica e 14 (45%) foram extubados em 24 horas. O tempo de ventilação mecânica dos demais foi de 7,7 dias. O início do resfriamento ocorreu com 1,8 horas de vida. Todos os pacientes apresentaram níveis elevados de creatinofosfoquinase, creatinofosfoquinase-MB e desidrogenase lática. Não se observou arritmia grave; um RN (2,9%) apresentou coagulopatia controlada. Quatro pacientes (11,4%) tiveram hipotensão controlada. Realizou-se ultrassonografia cerebral em 29 pacientes (82,9%), 10 (34,5%) com hiperecogenicidade da substância branca. 33 RN (94,3%) fizeram ressonância magnética cerebral, 11 (33,3%) com alterações hipóxico-isquêmicas. O tempo de internação foi de 23 dias e todos receberam alta. Dois pacientes (5,8%) necessitaram de gastrostomia.

CONCLUSÃO:: A hipotermia como terapêutica para RN asfixiados demonstrou ser segura.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None

Figures

Chart 1.
Chart 1.. Total body cooling protocol for infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
Table 1.
Table 1.. Perinatal characteristics of patients
Table 2.
Table 2.. Laboratory abnormalities
Table 3.
Table 3.. Adverse effects and outcome during hospitalization
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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