Birth asphyxia refers to inadequate oxygen delivery to a baby around the time of birth, which can injure multiple organs, most critically the brain. Babies with moderate to severe asphyxia are at risk of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Therapeutic hypothermia carefully reduces the baby's core temperature to 33 to 34 degrees Celsius for 72 hours, which limits the extent of brain injury by slowing the cascade of cell damage that follows the initial oxygen deprivation. It is effective only within a six-hour window from birth, which is why early recognition, prompt stabilisation, and swift referral to a centre equipped to provide it are critical. Not all babies with asphyxia require cooling - eligibility is assessed against specific clinical and physiological criteria.
Written by Dr. Kabir Nanda, MD Paediatrics, Fellowship in Neonatology (NNF Accredited), Diploma in Pulmonology, Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrician, Neonatologist, Allergist and Immunologist, Sukhmani Hospital, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi, and Westend Hospital, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi. Phone: +91 8076178418.
