Therapeutic hypothermia for neonates with sudden unexpected postnatal collapse

摘要

A 36-week gestation infant was delivered vaginally to a primi-para with uncomplicated antenatal period. The baby was well following delivery and was admitted to the postnatal ward with the mother. At 2 hours of life, a registered nurse attended the mother and baby for routine care and found the newborn on mother's chest, in the skin-to-skin position, with no spontaneous respiration. The baby was bradycardic and required full resuscitation including intubation and cardiac massage. The heart rate normalised but respiratory effort remained poor and ongoing ventilation was required. She was noted to be encephalopathic with an abnormal neurological examination.