[Prognosis of perinatal asphyxia in full-term neonates]

Abstract

We have performed a prospective study in 65 asphyxiated term newborns to evaluate the prognostic value of three different methods: 1) Neurological examination, 2) Electroencephalographic tracings (EEGs) and 3) Transfontanellar sonography, carried out periodically from birth until discharged from the neonatal unit. The neurological status of surviving infants was assessed at one year of age. We found a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) association between the neurological examination, electroencephalographic tracings and transfontanellar sonography during the neonatal period and the neurological development. The prognostic value, as a function of sensibility, specificity and predictive value of the three methods was very high. No differences were found among them, although the EEGs and neurological examinations showed the highest predictive values.