Evolution of the Thompson score during the first 6 h in infants with perinatal asphyxia

This study aimed to determine the evolution of the Thompson score, which provides composite grading of encephalopathy signs, during the first 6 h of birth in neonates with perinatal asphyxia.

Twenty term infants with perinatal asphyxia were prospectively studied from the University Hospital of Kinshasa during a 12-month period. The Thompson score was performed after 1 h, then hourly until 6 h of birth.

Fourteen infants had a Thompson score ≥7 and six had a score <7 after 1 h of birth. The Thompson score remained higher than 7 after 3 h in nine infants (64.3%) and in four infants (25.6%) after 6 h. After 3 h of birth, four infants moved from a score ≥7 to a score below 7. After 6 h, five infants had a score below 7. Seventy per cent of patients had a Thompson score higher than 7 after 1 h, 45% after 3 h and 20% after 6 h.

The Thompson score changes over the time during the first 6 h of birth, and this should be taken into account when it is being used as an entry criterion for cooling.