Severity of Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy in Neonates with Birth Asphyxia

Abstract

Background: To compare the severity of Hypoxic
Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates with
birth asphyxia born in Holy Family Hospital (in-cases),
and those born at places other than this hospital
(out-cases).
Methods: This prospective study was carried out in
the neonatal unit of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi,
from 1st January 2003 to 30th June 2003. One hundred
neonates with birth asphyxia were enrolled of which fifty
were in-cases and fifty out-cases. They were selected by
simple random sampling. The severity of HIE was staged
according to Sarnat criteria and these neonates followed
daily till discharge and then on fourteenth day of life. At
that time HIE outcome was determined as recovered or
improved and worsened or died.
Results: According to Sarnat’s criteria, majority of the
neonates were in stage II or stage III at the time of
admission of which 38 (76%) were in-cases and 48 (96%)
out-cases, (p value 0.006). On univariate and multivariate
analysis neonates admitted in stage III had treatment
failure twenty-four times more than those neonates who
were in stage I and II.
Conclusion: Severity of HIE is significantly more in
out-cases and is detected earlier in hospital settings.