Outcome of very severe birth asphyxia.

• DOI: 10.1136/adc.51.9.712
• Publication Date: 2008-12-22T21:14:24Z
• Authors: H Scott
• Keywords: Intelligence Tests; Asphyxia Neonatorum; Cerebral Palsy; Resuscitation; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Gestational Age; Fetal Distress; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Humans; Female; Child; Fetal Death; Follow-Up Studies

The aim of this study was to establish the outcome of very severe birth asphyxia in a group of babies intensively resuscitated at birth. 48 infants, born between 1966 and 1971 inclusive, were selected; 15 were apparently stillborn and 33 had not established spontaneous respirations by 20 minutes after birth. One-half of them died, but 3 to 7 years later three-quarters of the survivors are apparently normal. Later handicap was associated with factors leading to prolonged partial intrapartum asphyxia, while acute periods of more complete asphyxia were not necessarily harmful.