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Published on: March 3, 2021
Therapeutic hypothermia using gel packs for term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in resource-limited
Shruthi K Bharadwaj1, B Vishnu Bhat
1Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, JIPMER, Puducherry, 605 006, India. skb_bmc@yahoo.co.in
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) using gel packs in reducing mortality and morbidity in term neonates with HIE and study the associated problems with TH.
Methods:
Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy babies were randomized into TH and control group. Babies in TH group were cooled for first 72 h of birth using cloth covered cooling gel packs to maintain target rectal temperature of 33-34°C. Infants were followed up to 6 months and were assessed using Baroda Developmental Screening Test.
Results:
There were no significant differences in baseline parameters. TH group showed significant reduction in the combined rate of death or developmental delay at 6 months of age by 21% (8.1% in the TH group vs. 29% in the control, RR 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.70; p = 0.003).
Conclusions:
TH using gel packs reduces the risk of death or developmental delay at 6 months of age in infants with HIE.
