Outcome of babies admitted with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in Neonatal Unit of Services Hospital, Lahore

Objectives: To determine the outcome of newborns, admitted with different stages of HIE in Neonatal Unit, Services Hospital, Lahore. Study design: Descriptive Study. Place and duration of study: Neonatology Section, Pediatrics Department, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) / Services Hospital, Lahore. Over a period of Six months, from 1st August 2005 to 31st January 2006. Material & methods: A total of 170 newborns having Apgar score less than 7 were included in the study. Babies with any congenital anomaly were excluded. Results: 80% were males. 17.64% had weight less than 1.5 Kg, 37.06% weight between 1.5 Kg to 2.5 Kg and 45.29% had weight more than 2.5 Kg. 90.5% of our babies were delivered in Services Hospital, Lahore. 77.64% babies were full term. Babies were divided into three groups; Group-I had Apgar score 0-3, Group-II between 4 & 5 and Group-III had Apgar score 6-7. In Group-I, 65% babies died, whereas 100% had any one of the complications, in Group-II, there were 22% deaths and no baby died from Group-III. Conclusions: Despite advanced technology, a high number of babies have HIE and its complications. It is better to prevent babies from HIE, because once HIE occur, you cannot save babies completely from its complications.