Umbilical cord blood gas and lactate levels as a marker of birth asphyxia in neonates with particular reference to resource limited countries

ABSTRACT

Birth asphyxia remains an important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in the developing world. Babies who suffer birth asphyxia may develop cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and epilepsy. Early diagnosis and prompt placement of rehabilitative measures would help to reduce the burden of complications arising as a result of birth asphyxia. Time and again effort has been made to develop markers that would help in predicting outcome of neonates who have had an asphyxial insult. One such parameter that is now routinely being used in the developed world is the measurement of umbilical cord blood lactate level measured from blood gases. This review highlights the importance of early diagnosis of birth asphyxia and the role of umbilical cord blood lactate level in identifying babies who have had birth asphyxia in resource limited countries with a particular reference to Pakistan