Muhammad Nasir Rana, Ambreen Nasir, Mahwish Parvaiz.
Risk factors for newborn encephalopathy in babies admitted in Services Hospital.
Med Channel Jan ;14(1):25-7.

OBJECTIVES: To identify antepartum and intrapartum risk factors of newborn encephalopathy in term infants. DESIGN: Descriptive Study. PLACE & DURATION OF STUDY: Neonatology section of Paediatrics Department, Services Hospital/SIMS, Lahore. From 1st August 2005 to 30th April 2006. PATIENTS & METHODS: A total of 184 newborns with Apgar Score of 7 or less were included in the study. Babies with any congenital anomaly were excluded. Questionnaire had information about age and sex of baby, mode and place of delivery, gestational age and apgar Score. Risk factors studied were; Occipitoposterior presentation, maternal pyrexia, PROM (>18hours), hypertension, cord prolase, need for airway resuscitation, antepartum bleeding and baby`s weight. RESULTS: A total of 184 newborns were included. 77% were males. 29.89% had spontaneous vaginal delivery, 21.19% had induced vaginal delivery, 23.91% had instrumental vaginal delivery and 4.34% had elective caesarean section. 88.04% were delivered in teaching hospital. 19.56% did not require any airway resuscitation. Suction alone, Oxygen or bag mask was required in 9.24%, 17.93% and 24.45% cases respectively. Intubation alone and incubation and CPR were required in 18.47% and 7.06% cases respectively. Risk factors identified were: Occipito-posterior position (14.67%), maternal pyrexia (17.93%), PROM (29.89%), Hypertension (11.95%), Cord prolapse (3.26%), Antepartum bleeding (3.21) and general anesthesia (19.02%). CONCLUSION: Despite rapid advancement in medical science and technology, a large number of newborns still suffer from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and its complications. Causes of NE are heterogenous and relate to both antepartum and intrapartum period. Intrapartum hypoxia alone accounts for only a small proportion of newborn encephalopathy.

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