Cerebral rScO2 Measured by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) During Therapeutic Hypothermia in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal asphyxia, a leading cause of neonatal mortality and neurological sequelae, necessitates early detection of pathophysiological neurologic changes during hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). This study aimed to review published data on rScO2 monitoring during hypothermia treatment in neonates with perinatal asphyxia to predict short- and long-term neurological injury. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Study identification was performed through a search between November and December 2021 in the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The main outcome was short-term (Changes in brain magnetic resonating imaging) and long-term (In neurodevelopment) neurological injury. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) with CRD42023395438. RESULTS: 380 articles were collected from databases in the initial search. Finally, 15 articles were selected for extraction and analysis of the information. An increase in rScO2 measured by NIRS (Near-infrared spectroscopy) at different moments of treatment predicts neurological injury. However, there exists a wide variability in the methods and outcomes of the studies. CONCLUSION: High rScO2 values were found to predict negative outcomes, with substantial discord among studies. NIRS is proposed as a real-time bedside tool for predicting brain injury in neonates with moderate to severe HIE.

Clinical-functional correlation with brain volumetry in severe perinatal asphyxia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) appears in neurological conditions where some brain areas are likely to be injured, such as deep grey matter, basal ganglia area, and white matter subcortical periventricular áreas. Moreover, modeling these brain areas in a newborn is challenging due to significant variability in the intensities associated with HIE conditions. This paper aims to evaluate functional measurements and 3D machine learning models of a given HIE case by correlating the affected brain areas with the pathophysiology and clinical neurodevelopmental. CASE PRESENTATION: A comprehensive analysis of a term infant with perinatal asphyxia using longitudinal 3D brain information from Machine Learning Models is presented. The clinical analysis revealed the perinatal asphyxia diagnosis with APGAR <5 at 5 and 10 minutes, umbilical arterial pH of 7.0 BE of -21.2 mmol / L), neonatal seizures, and invasive ventilation mechanics. Therapeutic interventions: physical, occupational, and language neurodevelopmental therapies. Epilepsy treatment: vagus nerve stimulation, levetiracetam, and phenobarbital. Furthermore, the 3D analysis showed how the volume decreases due to age, exhibiting an increasing asymmetry between hemispheres. The results of the basal ganglia area showed that thalamus asymmetry, caudate, and putamen increase over time while globus pallidus decreases. CLINICAL OUTCOMES: spastic cerebral palsy, microcephaly, treatment-refractory epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Slight changes in the basal ganglia and cerebellum require 3D volumetry for detection, as standard MRI examinations cannot fully reveal their complex shape variations. Quantifying these subtle neurodevelopmental changes helps in understanding their clinical implications. Besides, neurophysiological evaluations can boost neuroplasticity in children with neurological sequelae by stimulating new neuronal connections.

Risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis in twin preterm infants.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in twin preterm infants. METHODS: The clinical data of 67 pairs of twin preterm infants admitted to the neonatal department of our hospital from January 2010 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. One of the twins had NEC (Bell II and above) and the other twin without NEC. They were divided into NEC group and control group according to whether NEC occurred or not. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that NEC was associated with congenital heart disease, small for gestational age, mild asphyxia at birth and feeding intolerance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Occurrence of NEC was associated with congenital heart disease, small for gestational age, and asphyxia at birth. For twin preterm infants with congenital heart disease, small for gestational age, or asphyxia at birth, special attention should be paid to the occurrence of NEC to minimize and avoid the occurrence of NEC.

Asphyxia, Therapeutic Hypothermia, and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Neonates with a perinatal hypoxic insult and subsequent neonatal encephalopathy are at risk of acute pulmonary hypertension (aPH) in the transitional period. The phenotypic contributors to aPH following perinatal asphyxia include a combination of hypoxic vasoconstriction of the pulmonary vascular bed, right heart dysfunction, and left heart dysfunction. Therapeutic hypothermia is the standard of care for neonates with moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. This review summarizes the underlying risk factors, causes of aPH in neonates with perinatal asphyxia, discusses the unique phenotypical contributors to disease, and explores the impact of the initial insult and subsequent therapeutic hypothermia on aPH.

Magnitude of meconium stained amniotic fluid and associated factors among women who gave birth in North Shoa Zone hospitals, Amhara Region, Ethiopia 2022.

BACKGROUND: The presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid is one of the causes for birth asphyxia. Each year, over five million neonatal deaths occur worldwide because of meconium-stained amniotic fluid and other causes, of which 90% are due to birth asphyxia. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of meconium-stained amniotic fluid and associated factors among women who gave birth in North Shoa Zone Hospitals, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed. We used 610 women who gave birth at North Shoa Zone Hospitals, Amhara region, Ethiopia. The study was conducted from June 8 to August 8, 2022. Recruitment for the study was made using a multistage sampling procedure. Fifty percent of the study hospitals were randomly selected, and proportional allocation was done. Participants were selected from the sampling frame, labour and delivery register book, using a systematic random sampling approach. The first person was selected at random, while the remaining individuals were selected at every two "K" intervals across all hospitals. An interview-administered structured questionnaire and chart review checklist were used to gather the data that were entered into Epi-Data Version 4.6 and exported to SPSS. Logistics regression was employed, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT: The magnitude of meconium-stained amniotic fluid was 30.3%. Women with a normal hematocrit level were 83% less likely to develop meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Women whose mid-upper arm circumference value was less than 22.9cm (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.18-3.20), obstructed labour (AOR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.48-8.83), prolonged labour ≥ 15 hr (AOR = 7.5; 95% CI: 7.68-13.3), premature rapture of membrane (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 3.22-7.40), foetal tachycardia (AOR = 6.2; 95% CI: 2.41-16.3), and Bradycardia (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.93-5.28) showed a significant association with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that the magnitude of meconium-stained amniotic fluid in North Shoa Zone is nearly one-third. A normal hematocrit level is a preventive factor for meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and a MUAC value <22.9 cm, obstructed and prolonged labour, PROM, bradycardia, and tachycardia are factors associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Perinatal asphyxia does not influence presepsin levels in neonates: A prospective study.

AIM: To compare Presepsin (presepsin) levels in plasma and urine of uninfected newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia with those of controls. METHODS: In this prospective study, we enrolled 25 uninfected full-term infants with perinatal asphyxia and 19 controls. We measured presepsin levels in whole blood or urine. In neonates with perinatal asphyxia, we compared presepsin levels in blood and urine at four time points. RESULTS: In neonates with perinatal asphyxia, blood and urinary presepsin levels matched each other at any time point. At admission, the median presepsin value in blood was similar in both groups (p = 0.74), while urinary levels were higher in hypoxic neonates (p = 0.05). Perinatal asphyxia seemed to increase serum CRP and procalcitonin levels beyond normal cut-off but not those of presepsin. CONCLUSION: In uninfected neonates with perinatal asphyxia, median blood and urinary presepsin levels matched each other at any point in the first 72 h of life and seemed to be slightly affected by the transient renal impairment associated with perinatal hypoxia in the first 12 h of life. Perinatal asphyxia did not influence presepsin levels within the first 72 h of life, while those of CRP and procalcitonin increased.

Association Between Advanced Airway Management With Adrenaline Injection and Prognosis in Adult Patients With Asystole Asphyxia Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: The neurological prognosis of asphyxia is poor and the effect of advanced airway management (AAM) in the prehospital setting remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between AAM with adrenaline injection and prognosis in adult patients with asystole asphyxia out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: This study assessed all-Japan Utstein cohort registry data between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019. We used propensity score matching analyses before logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effect of AAM on favorable neurological outcome. RESULTS: There were 879,057 OHCA cases, including 70,299 cases of asphyxia OHCAs. We extracted the data of 13,642 cases provided with adrenaline injection by emergency medical service. We divided 7,945 asphyxia OHCA cases in asystole into 5,592 and 2,353 with and without AAM, respectively. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 2,338 asphyxia OHCA cases with AAM were matched with 2,338 cases without AAM. Favorable neurological outcome was not significantly different between the AAM and no AAM groups (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-2.5). However, the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (adjusted OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-1.9) and 1-month survival (adjusted OR 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) were improved in the AAM group. CONCLUSION: AAM with adrenaline injection for patients with asphyxia OHCA in asystole was associated with improved ROSC and 1-month survival rate but showed no differences in neurologically favorable outcome. Further prospective studies may comprehensively evaluate the effect of AAM for patients with asphyxia.

Risk-stratified management strategies for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: A tertiary center population review over nearly 5 years.

OBJECTIVE: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, resulting in a higher risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective study of 2385 singletons with ICP who underwent risk-stratified management strategies. To explore the risks of perinatal outcomes of ICP, subgroup analyses were performed using different total bile acid (TBA) levels. RESULTS: In this study, there was only one stillbirth and one neonatal death. Among the study cohort, 2299 patients had ICP with a TBA level ≥10 µmol/L and 86 had ICP with a TBA level <10 µmol/L. The 2299 patients with ICP (TBA level ≥ 10 µmol/L) were divided into three groups: mild ICP (n = 1803), severe ICP (n = 400), and extremely severe ICP (n = 96). Increased TBA concentration was associated with an increased incidence of preterm birth, newborn asphyxia, neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and low birth weight in the three groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, severe and extremely severe ICP with hypotonic absonant uterine contraction had a significant effect on neonatal asphyxia (odds ratio, 5.06 [95% confidence interval, 1.09-23.37]; P < 0.05) and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (odds ratio, 2.37 [95% confidence interval, 1.43-3.93]; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hypotonic absonant uterine contractions could be high-risk stressors for severe and extremely severe ICP; hence, proper prenatal care is recommended. Risk-stratified management strategies for ICP are critical to obtaining better maternal-fetal outcomes.

Feasibility and Safety of Sildenafil to Repair Brain Injury Secondary to Birth Asphyxia (SANE-01): A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase Ib Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To test feasibility and safety of administering sildenafil in neonates with neonatal encephalopathy (NE), developing brain injury despite therapeutic hypothermia (TH). STUDY DESIGN: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ib clinical trial between 2016 and 2019 in neonates with moderate or severe NE, displaying brain injury on day-2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) despite TH. Neonates were randomized (2:1) to 7-day sildenafil or placebo (2 mg/kg/dose enterally every 12 hours, 14 doses). Outcomes included feasibility and safety (primary outcomes), pharmacokinetics (secondary), and day-30 neuroimaging and 18-month neurodevelopment assessments (exploratory). RESULTS: Of the 24 enrolled neonates, 8 were randomized to sildenafil and 3 to placebo. A mild decrease in blood pressure was reported in 2 of the 8 neonates after initial dose, but not with subsequent doses. Sildenafil plasma steady-state concentration was rapidly reached, but decreased after TH discontinuation. Twelve percent of neonates (1/8) neonates died in the sildenafil group and 0% (0/3) in the placebo group. Among surviving neonates, partial recovery of injury, fewer cystic lesions, and less brain volume loss on day-30 magnetic resonance imaging were noted in 71% (5/7) of the sildenafil group and in 0% (0/3) of the placebo group. The rate of death or survival to 18 months with severe neurodevelopmental impairment was 57% (4/7) in the sildenafil group and 100% (3/3) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil was safe and well-absorbed in neonates with NE treated with TH. Optimal dosing needs to be established. Evaluation of a larger number of neonates through subsequent phases II and III trials is required to establish efficacy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT02812433.

Perinatal asphyxia and hypothermic treatment from the endocrine perspective.

Introduction: Perinatal asphyxia is one of the three most important causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Therapeutic hypothermia represents the standard treatment for infants with moderate-severe perinatal asphyxia, resulting in reduction in the mortality and major neurodevelopmental disability. So far, data in the literature focusing on the endocrine aspects of both asphyxia and hypothermia treatment at birth are scanty, and many aspects are still debated. Aim of this narrative review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the short- and long-term effects of perinatal asphyxia and of hypothermia treatment on the endocrine system, thus providing suggestions for improving the management of asphyxiated children. Results: Involvement of the endocrine system (especially glucose and electrolyte disturbances, adrenal hemorrhage, non-thyroidal illness syndrome) can occur in a variable percentage of subjects with perinatal asphyxia, potentially affecting mortality as well as neurological outcome. Hypothermia may also affect endocrine homeostasis, leading to a decreased incidence of hypocalcemia and an increased risk of dilutional hyponatremia and hypercalcemia. Conclusions: Metabolic abnormalities in the context of perinatal asphyxia are important modifiable factors that may be associated with a worse outcome. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the possible occurrence of endocrine complication, in order to establish appropriate screening protocols and allow timely treatment.

Associations between maternal metabolic conditions and neurodevelopmental conditions in offspring: the mediating effects of obstetric and neonatal complications.

BACKGROUND: Maternal pre-gestational diabetes (PGDM), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and overweight/obesity have been associated with increased risks of offspring neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) including autism, intellectual disability (ID), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Less is known about whether and how obstetric and neonatal complications (e.g., preterm birth, neonatal asphyxia) could mediate these associations. METHODS: In this Swedish register-based cohort study, we examined complications during pregnancy, delivery, and the neonatal period as potential mediators of the relationships between maternal metabolic conditions and offspring NDCs. We quantified the extent to which these obstetric and neonatal factors could mediate the associations of maternal metabolic conditions with offspring NDCs by applying parametric regression models for single mediation analyses and weighting-based methods for multiple mediation analyses under counterfactual frameworks. RESULTS: The study sample included 2,352,969 singleton children born to 1,299,692 mothers from 1987-2010 who were followed up until December 31, 2016, of whom 135,832 children (5.8%) were diagnosed with at least one NDC. A substantial portion of the association between maternal PGDM and children's odds of NDCs could be explained by the combined group of obstetric and neonatal complications in the multiple mediation analysis. For instance, these complications explained 44.4% of the relationship between maternal PGDM and offspring ID risk. The proportion of the relationship between maternal overweight/obesity and children's risk of NDCs that could be explained by obstetric and neonatal complications was considerably smaller, ranging from 1.5 to 8.1%. Some complications considered on their own, including pregnancy hypertensive diseases, preterm birth, neonatal asphyxia, and hematological comorbidities, could explain at least 10% of the associations between maternal PGDM and offspring NDCs. Complications during the neonatal period showed a stronger joint mediating effect for the relationship between PGDM and offspring NDCs than those during pregnancy or delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric and neonatal complications could explain nearly half of the association between maternal PGDM and offspring risk of NDCs. The mediating effects were more pronounced for complications during the neonatal period and for specific complications such as pregnancy hypertensive diseases, preterm birth, neonatal asphyxia, and hematological comorbidities. Effective preventive strategies for offspring NDCs should holistically address both the primary metabolic issues related to PGDM and the wide array of potential complications, especially those in the neonatal period.

Effect of the smartphone application on caesarean section in women with overweight and obesity: a randomized controlled trial in China.

BACKGROUND: The rate of caesarean section (CS) is increasing worldwide. While a CS can be life-saving when medically indicated, it can cause adverse health effects for both women and children. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of the smartphone application, which aims to control the gestational weight gain, on the rate of CS in overweight and obese women. METHODS: Overweight and obese primiparas (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2) with age between 20 and 40 years old were recruited at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, and randomly assigned into the intervention group (143 cases) and the control group (138 cases). The intervention group applied the smartphone application (App) to control gestational weight gain in addition to the usual care, and the control group received the usual care. Primary outcome was cesarean section (CS) rate. Secondary outcomes included gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, postpartum hemorrhage, neonatal asphyxia, and macrosomia. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in CS rate, with 53.3% in the intervention group and 65.4% in the control group (P = 0.044). The difference still exists in the overweight subgroup (32.6% vs. 55.6%, P = 0.04), but disappears in the obesity subgroup (63.0% vs. 69.1%, P = 0.381). The median of gestational weight gain (GWG) of the intervention group is 8.5 kg (IQR 5.5, 11.0), which is significantly less than that of the control group (median 10.0 kg, IQR [6.0, 14.0], P = 0.008). The intervention group has significantly lower rate of postpartum hemorrhage (5.19%) than the control group (12%) (P = 0.045). There were no significant differences between the groups in gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, neonatal asphyxia, and macrosomia. CONCLUSION: The smartphone assisted weight control may help reduce CS rate. The effects of the smartphone application might be via the management of gestational weight gain. TRAIL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Registration number is ChiCTR2300068845 (retrospectively registered, 01/03/2023).

Cardiovascular responses to mild perinatal asphyxia in growth-restricted preterm lambs.

Growth-restricted neonates have worse outcomes after perinatal asphyxia, with more severe metabolic acidosis than appropriately grown neonates. The cardiovascular physiology associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) may alter their response to asphyxia. However, research on asphyxia in FGR is limited. Here we compared cardiovascular hemodynamics in preterm FGR and control lambs during mild perinatal asphyxia. We induced FGR in one twin at 89 days gestation (term 148 days), while the other served as a control. At 126 days gestation, lambs were instrumented to allow arterial blood pressure and regional blood flow recording, and then mild perinatal asphyxia was induced by umbilical cord clamping, and resuscitation followed neonatal guidelines. FGR lambs maintained carotid blood flow (CBF) for 7 min, while control lambs rapidly decreased CBF (P < 0.05). Fewer growth-restricted lambs needed chest compressions for return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (17 vs. 83%, P = 0.02). The extent of blood pressure overshoot after ROSC was similar, but it took longer for MAP to return to baseline in FGR lambs (18.83 ± 0.00 vs. 47.67 ± 0.00 min, P = 0.003). Growth-restricted lambs had higher CBF after ROSC (P < 0.05) and displayed CBF overshoot, unlike control lambs (P < 0.03). In conclusion, preterm growth-restricted lambs show resilience during perinatal asphyxia based on prolonged CBF maintenance and reduced need for chest compressions during resuscitation. However, CBF overshoot after ROSC may increase the risk of cerebrovascular injury in FGR.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Preterm growth-restricted lambs maintain carotid blood flow for longer than control lambs during asphyxia and have a lower requirement for chest compressions than control lambs during resuscitation. Preterm growth-restricted, but not control, lambs displayed an overshoot in carotid blood flow following return of spontaneous circulation.

Effects of season, daytime, sex, and stress on the incidence, latency, frequency, severity, and duration of neonatal seizures in a rat model of birth asphyxia.

Neonatal seizures are common in newborn infants after birth asphyxia. They occur more frequently in male than female neonates, but it is not known whether sex also affects seizure severity or duration. Furthermore, although stress and diurnal, ultradian, circadian, or multidien cycles are known to affect epileptic seizures in adults, their potential impact on neonatal seizures is not understood. This prompted us to examine the effects of season, daytime, sex, and stress on neonatal seizures in a rat model of birth asphyxia. Seizures monitored in 176 rat pups exposed to asphyxia on 40 experimental days performed over 3 years were evaluated. All rat pups exhibited seizures when exposed to asphyxia at postnatal day 11 (P11), which in terms of cortical development corresponds to term human babies. A first examination of these data indicated a seasonal variation, with the highest seizure severity in the spring. Sex and daytime did not affect seizure characteristics. However, when rat pups were subdivided into animals that were exposed to acute (short-term) stress after asphyxia (restraint and i.p. injection of vehicle) and animals that were not exposed to this stress, the seizures in stress-exposed rats were more severe but less frequent. Acute stress induced an increase in hippocampal microglia density in sham-exposed rat pups, which may have an additive effect on microglia activation induced by asphyxia. When seasonal data were separately analyzed for stress-exposed vs. non-stress-exposed rat pups, no significant seasonal variation was observed. This study illustrates that without a detailed analysis of all factors, the data would have erroneously indicated significant seasonal variability in the severity of neonatal seizures. Instead, the study demonstrates that even mild, short-lasting postnatal stress has a profound effect on asphyxia-induced seizures, most likely by increasing the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It will be interesting to examine how postnatal stress affects the treatment and adverse outcomes of birth asphyxia and neonatal seizures in the rat model used here.

The PURPOSe cause of death study in stillbirths and neonatal deaths in India and Pakistan: A review.

The PURPOSe study was a prospective, observational study conducted in India and Pakistan to determine the cause of death for stillbirths and preterm neonatal deaths, using clinical data together with minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) and the histologic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluation of fetal/neonatal tissues and the placenta. After evaluating all available data, an independent panel chose a maternal, a placental and a fetal/neonatal cause of death. Here, we summarise the major results. Among the most important findings were that most stillbirths were caused by fetal asphyxia, often preceded by placental malperfusion, and clinically associated with pre-eclampsia, placental abruption and a small-for-gestational-age fetus. The preterm neonatal deaths were primarily caused by birth asphyxia, followed by various infections. An important finding was that many of the preterm neonatal deaths were caused by a nosocomial infection acquired after neonatal intensive care (NICU) admission; the most common organisms were Acinetobacter baumannii, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli/Shigella and Haemophilus influenzae. Group B streptococcus was less commonly present in the placentas or internal organs of the neonatal deaths.

Contributing factors of birth asphyxia in Thailand: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Birth asphyxia is of significant concern because it impacts newborn health from low to severe levels. In Thailand, birth asphyxia remains a leading cause of delayed developmental health in children under 5 years old. The study aimed to determine the maternal, fetal and health service factors contributing to birth asphyxia. METHODS: A case-control design was conducted on a sample of 4256 intrapartum chart records. The samples were selected based on their Apgar scores in the first minute of life. A low Apgar score (≤ 7) was chosen for the case group (852) and a high Apgar score (> 7) for the control group (3408). In addition, a systematic random technique was performed to select 23 hospitals, including university, advanced and secondary, in eight health administration areas in Thailand for evaluating the intrapartum care service. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: The odds of birth asphyxia increases in the university and advanced hospitals but the university hospitals had the highest quality of care. The advanced and secondary hospitals had average nurse work-hours per week of more than 40 h. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that intrapartum care services and maternal-fetal factors contributed to birth asphyxia. The odd of birth asphyxia increases significantly in late-preterm, late-term pregnancies, low-birth weight, and macrosomia. Furthermore, maternal comorbidity, non-reassuring, and obstetric emergency conditions significantly increase the odd of birth asphyxia. In addition, an excellent quality of intrapartum care, a combined nursing model, low nurse work-hours, and obstetrician-conducted delivery significantly reduced birth asphyxia. CONCLUSION: Birth asphyxia problems may be resolved in the health service management offered by reducing the nurse work-hours. Excellent quality of care required the primary nursing care model combined with a team nursing care model. However, careful evaluation and monitoring are needed in cases of comorbidity, late-preterm, late-term pregnancies, low-birth weight, and macrosomia. Furthermore, increasing the obstetrician availability in obstetric emergencies and non-reassuring fetal status is important.

Short-term neurological injury in newborns infants with overcooling in passive hypothermia and transferred to reference hospital in Colombia.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine whether overcooling (temperature <33°C) during passive hypothermia when transporting neonates with perinatal asphyxia increased the risk of short-term neurological injury. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed. Newborns transferred to the LaCardio neonatal unit between January 2021 and April 2022 with moderate and severe perinatal asphyxia and who received passive hypothermia during transport were included. A temperature of <33°C was considered overcooling. A composite outcome of neurological injury was defined by the presence of abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging, video telemetry, seizure before discharge or both. RESULTS: The study included 101 newborns. A total of 18 neonates had a temperature <33°C after transportation. Neurological injuries were present in 21.8% of the temperature <33°C group and 78.2% of the temperature ≥33°C group. Temperature <33°C at the end of transport (aOR 9.2, 95% CI 1.1-77.3) were associated with neurological injury before discharge from the unit. CONCLUSION: During transportation, overcooling in neonates with asphyxia increases the risk of neurological injury before discharge from the neonatal unit. It is important to qualify the transport team with adequate training and equipment for therapeutic hypothermia.

Volumetric capnography and return of spontaneous circulation in an experimental model of pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest.

A secondary analysis of a randomized study was performed to study the relationship between volumetric capnography (VCAP) and arterial CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to analyze the ability of these parameters to predict the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in a pediatric animal model of asphyxial cardiac arrest (CA). Asphyxial CA was induced by sedation, muscle relaxation and extubation. CPR was started 2 min after CA occurred. Airway management was performed with early endotracheal intubation or bag-mask ventilation, according to randomization group. CPR was continued until ROSC or 24 min of resuscitation. End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2), CO2 production (VCO2), and EtCO2/VCO2/kg ratio were continuously recorded. Seventy-nine piglets were included, 26 (32.9%) of whom achieved ROSC. EtCO2 was the best predictor of ROSC (AUC 0.72, p < 0.01 and optimal cutoff point of 21.6 mmHg). No statistical differences were obtained regarding VCO2, VCO2/kg and EtCO2/VCO2/kg ratios. VCO2 and VCO2/kg showed an inverse correlation with PCO2, with a higher correlation coefficient as resuscitation progressed. EtCO2 also had an inverse correlation with PCO2 from minute 18 to 24 of resuscitation. Our findings suggest that EtCO2 is the best VCAP-derived parameter for predicting ROSC. EtCO2 and VCO2 showed an inverse correlation with PCO2. Therefore, these parameters are not adequate to measure ventilation during CPR.

Establishment of a Rat Model of Capillary Leakage Syndrome Induced by Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Cardiac Arrest.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest (CA) is one of the main causes of capillary leakage syndrome (CLS). This study aimed to establish a stable CLS model following the CA and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA-CPR) model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, animal model study. All adult male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group N), a sham operation group (group S), and a cardiopulmonary resuscitation group (group T). The SD rats of the three groups were all inserted with 24-G needles through their left femoral arteries and right femoral veins. In group S and group T, the endotracheal tube was intubated. In group T, CA induced by asphyxia (AACA) was caused by vecuronium bromide with the endotracheal tube obstructed for 8 min, and the rats were resuscitated with manual chest compression and mechanical ventilation. Preresuscitation and postresuscitation measurements, including basic vital signs (BVS), blood gas analysis (BG), routine complete blood count (CBC), wet-to-dry ratio of tissues (W/D), and the HE staining results after 6 h were evaluated. RESULTS: In group T, the success rate of the CA-CPR model was 60% (18/30), and CLS occurred in 26.6% (8/30) of the rats. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics, including BVS, BG, and CBC, among the three groups (P>0.05). Compared with pre-asphyxia, there were significant differences in BVS, CBC, and BG, including temperature, oxygen saturation (SpO2), mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, pH, pCO2, pO2, SO2, lactate (Lac), base excess (BE), and Na+ (P<0.05) after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in group T. At 6 h after ROSC in group T and at 6 h after surgery in groups N and S, there were significant differences in temperature, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), SpO2, MAP, CVP, WBC, pH, pCO2, Na+, and K+ among the three groups (P<0.05). Compared with the other two groups, the rats in group T showed a significantly increased W/D weight ratio (P<0.05). The HE-stained sections showed consistent severe lesions in the lung, small intestine, and brain tissues of the rats at 6 h after ROSC following AACA. CONCLUSION: The CA-CPR model in SD rats induced by asphyxia could reproduce CLS with good stability and reproducibility.

Serum magnesium levels of term neonates with birth asphyxia and relationship to severity of asphyxia.

Background and Aims: Birth asphyxia is one of the three main causes of neonatal mortality in Nigeria. Hypomagnesaemia has been reported amongst severely asphyxiated babies. Despite this, the prevalence of hypomagnesaemia amongst newborns with birth asphyxia has not been well researched in Nigeria. This study set out to determine the prevalence of hypomagnesaemia in term neonates with birth asphyxia and the relationship (if any) between magnesium levels and the severity of birth asphyxia or encephalopathy. Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, the serum magnesium levels of consecutive cases of birth asphyxia were compared to that of gestational age-matched healthy term neonates. Babies with Apgar scores <7 in the 5th minute of life were recruited into the study. Blood samples were taken from each baby at birth and 48 h. Serum magnesium was measured using spectrophotometry. Results: Hypomagnesaemia was found in 36 (35.3%) babies with birth asphyxia and 14 (13.7%) healthy controls; this difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 18.098, P = 0.001), with an odds ratio of 3.4 (95% confidence interval = 1.7, 6.9). The median (interquartile range) levels of serum magnesium in babies with mild, moderate and severe asphyxia were 0.7 mmol/L (0.5-1.1), 0.7 mmol/L (0.4-0.9) and 0.7 mmol/L (0.5-1.0), respectively (P = 0.316), while those of babies with mild (stage 1), moderate (stage 2) and severe (stage 3) encephalopathy were 1.2 mmol/L (1.0-1.3), 0.7 mmol/L (0.5-0.8) and 0.8 mmol/L (0.6-1.0), respectively (P = 0.789). Conclusion: This study has shown that hypomagnesaemia was more common in babies with birth asphyxia and there was no relationship between magnesium levels and the severity of asphyxia or encephalopathy.