Prognosis in infants with birth asphyxia.

Abstract

The risk of neurodevelopmental disability from birth asphyxia secondary to intrapartum complications and obstetric mismanagement is generally overestimated. Between 8-17% of all cerebral palsy is associated with adverse perinatal events suggestive of asphyxia. Less than 10% is probably due directly to birth asphyxia itself. Studies have shown that different methods of intrapartum assessment of fetal well-being (fetal heart rate monitoring, fetal scalp pH, presence of meconium) do not correlate well with each other or with neonatal parameters (acid-base status at birth, Apgar scores, seizures, neurological behaviour) and outcome measures (death, cerebral palsy, mental retardation). The prevalence rate of cerebral palsy in most communities of 2.0-2.5 per 1000 children is not falling in spite of increasing use of obstetric and neonatal interventions aimed at preventing or treating birth asphyxia. Prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome of birth asphyxia is difficult because of a limited ability to measure birth asphyxia quantitatively in the antenatal and neonatal period. The terminology used to describe the condition is often confusing. It has been recommended that substantial cerebral hypoxia can only be presumed when four criteria are met: the infant has an Apgar score < or = 3 at 10 minutes, metabolic acidosis at birth, hypotonia for several hours and seizures. For the paediatrician, a number of clinical observations and laboratory investigations have been suggested as helpful in the prediction of death or disability among term infants with birth asphyxia.