Term infants with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: poor neurodevelopmental outcome despite standard neonatal intensive care

Perinatal asphyxia may be severe and affect the neurological system, causing hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Twenty-three term infants with HIE were studied over 3.5 years. Nine died and of the 14 survivors, eight were normal and the rest had abnormal neurological sequelae. Favourable prognostic markers were a 5 minute Apgar score (>5, first pH >7.1, and stage I HIE. Despite standard neonatal intensive care management, the mortality and morbidity rates for these infants remained high.