Case series of therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during extracorporeal life support

Abstract

Therapeutic hypothermia initiated within 6 hours of birth is currently the standard of care for the management of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are also at risk for severe respiratory failure and need for extracorporeal life support. The risks and benefits of therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during extracorporeal life support are still not well defined. We report our experience of a case series of six neonates who underwent therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during extracorporeal life support. We also report long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up from 6 to 24 months and add to the current body of evidence regarding feasibility, clinical experience, and short-term complications.

Neural Function Recovery and Safety of Mild Hypothermia Therapy Combined with Monosialotetrahexosylganglioside on Neonatal Asphyxia Complicated by Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

“…Epilepsy and cerebral palsy are common complications of HIE, and their inducement is related to permanent damage of central nervous system caused by HIE. In addition, routine hypothermia therapy for HIE children also presents a risk of respiratory failure, which may be associated with oxygen limitation due to hypoxic ischemic events [ 33 , 34 ]. The data of this study confirmed that mild hypothermia therapy combined with GM1 can not only improve the treatment effectiveness of HIE but also reduce the risk of epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and respiratory failure.…”