Perinatal asphyxia is a condition in which a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen before, during, or after birth. This results in cardiorespiratory or brain damage.
Asphyxia can be fatal. Brain cells can begin dying within as little as 5 minutes without oxygen. It can also cause permanent, long-term damage, including intellectual disability, delayed development, seizure disorder, and cerebral palsy.
Perinatal asphyxia can be caused by a number of conditions that stop or slow the normal blood and oxygen flow to the baby's brain before or during labor and delivery. Some factors that may cause these problems include:
Factors that may increase your baby’s chance of perinatal asphyxia include:
Mild asphyxia may cause:
Severe asphyxia may cause:
A physical exam will be done. Typically, the history is the most important factor in making the diagnosis.
Your baby’s body fluids may be tested. This can be done with blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, and tests of the fluid around the brain and spine.
Images may need to be taken of your baby’s body structures. This can be done with:
Your baby’s heart and brain activity may also be tested. This can be done with:
Life-sustaining treatment may be used if reduced brain function has happened, but there is no extensive damage yet. Treatment options include mechanical ventilation to take over or support breathing and oxygen therapy. These treatments will be stopped as your baby recovers.
Medication may be needed to support heart function until your baby recovers. Medication and general anesthesia may also be given to control seizures.
Your baby may be wrapped in cooling blankets within hours of birth. This will lower body temperature and reduce the risk of tissue injury and reduce the risk of long-term problems.
In most cases, asphyxia is sudden and cannot be prevented.
Brain Injury Association of America
http://www.biausa.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Ontario Brain Injury Association
http://www.obia.ca
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Last reviewed March 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Chelsea Skucek, MSN, BS, RNC-NIC