PediatricsCase Report

Therapeutic Hypothermia to Treat a Newborn With Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Todd R. Fredricks, DO; Christopher Gibson, III; Francis Essien, III; and Jeffrey S. Benseler, DO
Notes and Affiliations
Notes and Affiliations

Received: November 21, 2016

Accepted: January 12, 2017

Published: June 1, 2017

J Osteopath Med; 117(6): 393-398
Abstract

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is caused by neonatal asphyxia and can lead to mortality or long-term neurodevelopmental morbidity in neonates. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is one of the few effective ways to manage mitigating neurologic sequelae. The authors describe the case of a neonate who had a perinatal hypoxic insult and sustained no long-term sequelae after being treated with TH. It is important that osteopathic physicians who provide obstetric and gynecologic, perinatal, and emergency medical care are able to recognize a perinatal hypoxic event, understand the stratification of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy risk factors, and implement early TH protocols.

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