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Hypobaric birth room may prevent intraventricular hemorrhage in extremely low birth weights infants

Kadir Şerafettin Tekgündüz1, Sibel Ejder Tekgündüz2

  • 1Ataturk University Medical Faculty, Division of Neonatology, Erzurum, Turkey.

Medical Hypotheses
|August 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Hypobaric environments may reduce intraventricular hemorrhage in extremely low birth weight infants by stabilizing cerebral blood flow. Monitoring infants in hypobaric rooms for 72 hours could prevent patent ductus arteriosus-related complications.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Critical Care

Background:

  • Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a significant risk for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.
  • Hemodynamic instability and fluctuating cerebral blood flow, often due to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with left-to-right shunting, are key contributors to IVH, particularly within the first 72 hours of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of hypobaric environments to mitigate IVH in ELBW infants.
  • To reduce the incidence of IVH by stabilizing cerebral blood flow and minimizing PDA-related shunting.

Main Methods:

  • Hypothesized that monitoring ELBW infants in hypobaric rooms for the initial 72 hours post-birth could prevent rapid pulmonary pressure drops.
  • Proposed that this intervention may decrease left-to-right shunting through PDA, thereby stabilizing cerebral blood flow.
  • Suggested a gradual transition to normobaric conditions after three days to avoid long-term hypobaric effects.

Main Results:

  • Hypobaric exposure is hypothesized to stabilize hemodynamic status by increasing cerebral blood flow.
  • Reduced left-to-right shunting due to PDA is anticipated, leading to decreased IVH incidence.
  • Stable hemodynamics in a hypobaric environment may prevent IVH development in ELBW infants.

Conclusions:

  • Monitoring ELBW infants in hypobaric rooms for the first 72 hours is a novel strategy to reduce IVH.
  • This approach aims to prevent PDA-related cerebral blood flow fluctuations and improve neonatal outcomes.
  • A gradual return to normobaric conditions is recommended to mitigate potential adverse effects of prolonged hypobaric exposure.

Keywords:
Extremely low birth weightsHigh-altitudeHypobaricIntraventricular hemorrhage

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