Short term Neurodevelopmental outcome of asphyxiated newborns at tertiary care unit

ABSTRACT

To find out the short term neurodevelopmental outcome of asphyxiated newborns. Cross-sectional study using prospective data. Neonatal unit of Children's Hospital, Lahore from August, 2000 to July, 2001. We included 150 cases of birth asphyxia and survivors were followed till the age of six months and neurodevelopmental status was assessed by Denver developmental screening test II [DDST-II]. Severity of asphyxia was categorized as no encephalopathy, three different stages of HIE. During follow up visits, normal to delayed developmental status was expected. Infants were divided into two groups. Group A included neonates without HIE and group B with encephlopathy. Among group B, newborns developmental delay was found in 9 neonates and 48 neonates died while in group A neonates there was no child who had developmental delay and only six newborns died.[P value<0.05] There were 117 [78%] males, 35 mothers [23%] had antenatal visits to trained medical professionals. Majority of mothers [76%] had their visits to non doctor personnel like midwives, lady health visitors or nurse. Majority [61%] of study population were home delivered, 24% at private clinics and maternity homes while only 14% came from hospitals. Different stages of HIE have strong correlation with the outcome of these neonates. More effort and resources should be directed to this preventable community problem: