Early clinical outcome and complications associated in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy grade II/III who underwent treatment with servo controlled whole-body therapeutic hypothermia: A prospective observational study

Background: There are limited data regarding servo-controlled whole-body therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) Stage II/III in the Indian setting. The objectives of this study were to determine the early clinical outcome of neonates with HIE Stage II/III treated with TH and to determine the mortality rate and associated complications. Methods: This study was a prospective observational study done at a Level 3A National Neonatology Forum accredited tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Term neonates with HIE Grade II/III admitted to NICU within 6 h of birth were enrolled in the study. Subjects underwent servo-controlled whole-body therapeutic cooling as per the research protocol. Results: Out of 54 subjects, 22 (40.7%) had stage II HIE and 32 (59.3%) had Stage III. The mortality rate was 24% (n = 13), with all having Stage 3. Direct breastfeeds was achieved in 65.9% of successfully cooled babies within 48 h after TH treatment. About 85.4% of babies who were successfully cooled had good early clinical outcomes as evidenced by good activity, normal tone, successful direct breastfeeding, and early discharge within 72 h post treatment with TH. Coagulopathy was observed in 70.4%, raised liver enzymes in 96.3% and thrombocytopenia in 9.3%. Conclusion: There is a significant correlation of grade of encephalopathy and blood gas abnormality at admission with the outcome in babies with HIE treated with TH. Majority of babies with HIE stage 2/3 who successfully completed TH had good early clinical outcomes at the time of discharge.