A novel scoring system (YASHMA) predicting brain injury in asphyxiated newborns

Abstract Background Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a complication of adverse intrapartum events and birth asphyxia resulting in brain injury and mortality in late preterm and term newborns. Objectives In this study, we aimed to predict brain damage on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a new scoring system. Methods Yieldly And Scorable Holistic Measuring of Asphyxia (YASHMA) is generated for detection of brain injury in asphyxiated newborns. Total scores were calculated according to scores of birth weight, gestation weeks, APGAR scores at first and fifth minutes, aEEG patterns and epileptic status of patients. The major outcome of the scoring system was to determine correlation between poor scores and neonatal brain injury detected on MRI. Results In hypothermia group with brain injury, low gestational weeks and lowest APGAR scores, abnormal aEEG findings were statistically different from others. YASHMA scores were statistically significant with high sensitivity, specificity, AUC and 95% confidence interval values. Conclusions YASHMA scoring system is feasible and can be suggestive for detecting brain injury in low-income countries.