In plain words
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is injury to a newborn's brain from a lack of oxygen and blood flow, usually near the time of birth. It is rare. It can follow a disruption of blood flow through the placenta or cord, a uterine rupture, or a drop in the baby's oxygen during labor. Doctors grade HIE as mild, moderate, or severe, based on the baby's alertness, tone, reflexes, and seizures. Cooling the baby's body for several days is a treatment used in many hospitals for moderate and severe cases. Its effects range from none to lasting disability, depending on severity. Families are usually supported by the neonatal team and by social work and chaplaincy services. Parents can ask the team to explain each test and each step.
The deeper version
HIE is a clinical syndrome of neonatal encephalopathy from intrapartum hypoxia-ischemia. Severity is graded by the Sarnat and Sarnat (1976) staging system, based on level of consciousness, tone, reflexes, and seizures. Therapeutic , cooling to about 33 to 34 C for 72 hours, is standard for moderate to severe HIE in term infants (Jacobs and colleagues, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013). Absolute risk is low, and estimates vary by population and by how cases are defined.
Where it comes up
- When the baby is injured at birthLoss and Complications
- VBAC: birth after a cesareanGetting Ready for Birth
What mothers here say about hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
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Sources
- Jacobs SE et al. — Cooling for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013
- Sarnat HB, Sarnat MS — Neonatal encephalopathy following fetal distress: a clinical and electroencephalographic study. Archives of Neurology, 1976