Authors

Isabel Mª Fernández Medina

Position

Enfermera interna-residente y fisioterapeuta. Complejo Hospitalario Torrecárdenas (Almería).

Contact address

C/ Bretón, 1, 1º D. 04779 Puente del Río. Adra (Almería).

Contact email: isabelmariafm@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective: to understand and analyze the efficacy of hypothermia for reduction of mortality and neurological damage in newborns with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).
Metodology: narrative review of scientific literature through a bibliographic search in the following databases: Pubmed, Cochrane Database of Reviews and Medline. The articles selected included the period from 2007 to 2014. Criteria for selection were: random controlled clinical trials, and bibliographic review studies assessing the efficacy of hypothermia in children suffering Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.
Results: conclusive results have been found where hypothermia had a positive effect on the reduction of mortality and neurological damage.
Conclusions: overall induced therapeutic hypothermia will reduce significantly both mortality and the risk of developing neurological complications in newborns suffering HIE at 18 months and 2 years of age, though more clinical trials are required.

Keywords:

Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy; newborn; neuroprotectionhypothermia

Versión en Español

Título:

Encefalopatía hipóxico isquémica e hipotermia cerebral