SEVERE NEONATAL ASPHYXIA

Abstract

In Sweden during the 1970s the incidence of severe asphyxia (Apgar score of 3 or less at 5 min) has decreased significantly from 3.22 to 2.56 per 1000 [human] infants. A follow-up study was undertaken concerning 116 infants (40 preterm, 76 full-term) admitted to St. Goran''s Children''s Hospital [Stockholm, Sweden] during a 7-yr period (1973-1979). Mortality rate was 48% in preterm and 21% in full-term infants. Significant sequelae were present in 27% of the surviving full-term and 14% of the preterm infants. The 3 severely handicapped preterm infants had other serious diseases as well; this applied to only 1 full-term infant. Predictors of sequelae included perinatal complications, late onset of spontaneous ventilation (> 20 min) and postnatal symptoms, such as seizures. Only 2 of 9 infants with regular breathing after 20 min and 3 of 16 infants with seizures were considered normal at follow-up.