Acute neonatal morbidity and long-term central nervous system sequelae of perinatal asphyxia in term infants

Abstract

Twenty-eight term neonates with severe perinatal asphyxia were referred to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The morbidity of asphyxia included involvement of the pulmonary ( n = 24 infants), central nervous system ( n = 22), renal ( n = 15), cardiac ( n = 14), metabolic ( n = 13) and hematologic ( n = 10) systems. The majority of neonates had more than three organ systems involved. Twenty-four neonates survived the neonatal course and at NICU discharge all system effects other than the central nervous system had resolved. At 5 years (60 months), 14 children had a normal neurologic examination, 9 had spastic quadriplegia and one had hemiplegia. Nine children had a McCarthy General Cognitive Index (GCI) ≥ 84, 3 had a GCI between 68 and 83 and 12 scored < 67. Neonatal seizures, renal problems, microcephaly at 3 months, and post-neonatal seizures were associated with an abnormal neurologic outcome or a GCI < 67. A neurologic examination during the first year of life may reveal whether children with birth asphyxia will be relatively normal at age 5 years or whether they will show considerable delay.