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Even Mild Oxygen Deprivation at Birth May Cause Birth Injury

A newborn baby.

The health consequences of moderate or severe oxygen deprivation before or during birth are well known. However, new research by medical researchers at the University College Cork in Ireland finds that mild oxygen deprivation also may lead to long-term health problems.

The researchers analyzed newborn babies who suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy at birth. This is a condition in which the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen around the time of birth. This condition is thought to be one of the biggest causes of neonatal fatality. Babies who survive oxygen deprivation may be at risk for a number of disabilities and conditions, such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and developmental delays.

The scientists analyzed the brain scans of 60 babies who suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy at birth and followed the children’s development over a period of five years. They found that even in cases in which the oxygen deprivation was relatively mild, there was an association in some cases with developmental delays. They said subtle learning deficits were fairly common among children who had suffered mild or moderate hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Approximately 20% of the infants who suffered from mild oxygen deprivation at birth showed learning deficiencies and behavioral problems at the age of 5. These deficiencies included attention deficit disorder, speech delays, dyspraxia, and autism. Among infants who were exposed to moderate or mild oxygen deprivation, the researchers found strong evidence of a higher risk of poor memory, poor processing ability, and generally lower IQ scores.

Babies who suffer moderate hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy typically are treated with therapeutic hypothermia, a technique to cool down body temperatures in order to minimize brain damage. In this procedure, a baby’s body is cooled down to 72°C as soon as it is born. The temperature is maintained at these low levels for approximately 72 hours.

When the body temperature cools down, some of the body’s chemical reactions slow, giving natural repair mechanisms inside the cells a chance to minimize the brain damage without being overworked. Therapeutic cooling is generally administered to babies who have suffered moderate oxygen deprivation but not to babies with mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

The research suggests that babies with even mild levels of oxygen deprivation may suffer from long-term health problems as a result. When a birth injury occurs because a doctor or nurse fails to react to warning signs of complications before or during the birthing process, the child may require continued medical care and therapy. In cases where the health care provider failed to follow the recognized standard of care, compensation may be available to those who have been injured to help cover ongoing medical expenses.

Source: The Independent