Therapeutic hypothermia in asphyxiated neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: A single-center experience from its first application in Greece (original) (raw)

Therapeutic hypothermia has become an established therapy in asphyxiated neonates with evidence of moderate/severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Herein, we describe our recent experience with total body cooling in asphyxiated neonates, which is the first relevant report in Greece. The medical records of all asphyxiated newborns treated with therapeutic hypothermia in our center between September 2010 and October 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. We recorded data related to neonatal-perinatal characteristics, whole body cooling and outcome. Twelve asphyxiated neonates [median gestational age 38 weeks (36-40)] received whole body cooling (rectal temperature 33.5 ± 0.5 (o)C for 72 hours) during the study period for moderate (n=3) and severe (n=9) hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Cooling was passive in 4 and active in 8 (66.7%) cases. Therapeutic hypothermia was initiated at the median age of 5 hours (0.5-11) after birth. Seven neonates survived (58.3%) to hospital discharge. On fo...