The dangers of premature extubation after severe birth asphyxia

The records of all 91 neonates with asphyxia who were referred to the Royal Children's Hospital in 1982 and 1983 were reviewed and information was obtained on their subsequent neurological outcome. Thirty children had been extubated after their initial resuscitation, before transfer to the Royal Children's Hospital; 21 of these children had been extubated despite the fact that they had taken more than 5 min to take their first breath, and 11 (52%) of them died (while none of the nine infants who breathed within 5 min died). A paediatrician was involved with two-thirds of the 21 children who were extubated despite having more than 5 min to breathe. Twelve children required cardiac massage; seven of them were extubated and then reintubated before transfer, and six of the seven infants died. These findings suggest that many paediatricians are not aware of the importance of continuing ventilatory support in neonates who have suffered a severe asphyxial insult. Asphyxiated babies who require cardiac massage, and babies who do not start breathing within 5 min of birth, should not be extubated as soon as they have established regular respiration; they should remain intubated and be transferred to an intensive care unit.