Severe birth asphyxia results from inadequate oxygenation at birth and causes approximately 1 million deaths in newborns each year; almost 1/4 of all neonatal deaths (death before 28 days of life). In the most severe cases, these infants require advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation at birth, including ventilation, chest compressions and adrenaline. While the requirement is rare the outcomes of infants requiring CPR in the delivery room are devastating: 41-83% will die and 57-93% of survivors suffer moderate to severe disability. Further, infants that survive CPR have a high incidence of severe bleeding in the brain, which occurs due to a large overshoot in brain blood flow and pressure after recovery. In this application, we will trial a novel therapy to prevent the overshoot after recover from CPR, thus reducing bleeding in the brain, and ultimately, improving outcomes in asphyxiated newborns.
Last updated17 January 2023